Telecommunications operators in Nigeria could face additional fines imposed by Nigerian authorities for poor customer service ratings.
According to the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, operators are not meeting the minimum standards established in the country. Last month the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) banned operators from issuing new promotions or lotteries.
The NCC will lift the ban once the telecom operators’ customer service ratings improve. However, some of the operators in the country simply ignored the NCC’s ban and continued offering promotions to their customers.
“The Commission has, in recent times been inundated with several complaints from consumers and Industry Stakeholders against the various promotions offered by telecommunications operators,” said Tony Ojobo, NCC Director of Public Affairs.
The NCC confirmed that it has been “consistent with its processes” and has “evaluated the complaints received, especially against the backdrop of sustaining the integrity of the networks, general interest of the consumers, the socio-economic impact of these promotions on operators and other relevant stakeholders.”
Operators were previously fined NGN 1.7 billion (US$ 267 million) in May this year for bad service quality.
ICT Minister Omobola Johnson said Nigerian government is working together with the operators in question so as to avoid any future fines, especially in the next six months.
“This ban is with immediate effect and shall continue to remain in force until such a time as may be determined by the Commission,” said the NCC and identified Globacom, MTN, Intercellular, Visafone Comms, Etisalat, Airtel Networks and Multilinks Telecoms as the guilty parties.
