The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has slammed mobile operators with various fines totalling NGN22 million (US$139,000).
The reason for the fines for MTN, Globacom, Etisalat and Airtel was the continued contravention of the commission’s ban on lotteries and promos.
The telecommunication companies are accused of going against the measures, which were aimed at tackling service quality.
During the period of the ban, the NCC said MTN ran five promotions, and has thus hit it with a NGN10 (US$63,000) million fine.
Etisalat has been directed to pay NGN6 million for the three promotions it held during the period, while Airtel will pay NGN4 million and Globacom NGN2 million.
In addition to the sanction, the commission’s director of legal and regulatory services Josephine Amuwa said the NCC will inflict stiffer sanctions on any company that contravenes the directive again.
She said: “In the event of further non-compliance with the ban, and or refusal to pay the sanction amount within the stipulated time, the Commission shall have no other option than to impose stiffer penalties in accordance with the powers of the Commission, including, but not limited to, payment of NGN1 million for each day that the contravention persists.”
She also directed the companies to discontinue the promotions with immediate effect, with failure to do so to be seen as a direct contravention of guidelines on adverts and promotions, as well as the Nigerian Communications (Enforcement Processes, etc) Regulations 2005.
A seven-day ultimatum has been issued following which a daily contravention fee of NGN1 million will become effective.
