The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been uurged to stop “unfair practices” of telecoms companies in Nigeria. The lawmakers while discussing the country’s telecoms industry noted that there are increasing cases of “unsolicited caller tunes” and text messages to subscribers by service providers as one example that the NCC must stop immediately.
In a resolution, the lawmakers observed that the caller tunes and promotional text messages were not only unsolicited but also carried charges and deductions are made without notifying the subscribers.
“In the recent past, mobile telephone service providers in Nigeria started charging their subscribers for caller tunes unsolicited in contravention of the NCC Act, 2003,” Mr. Ali Madaki, who moved a motion on the issue, told the House.
Madakitold the house that he once took his phone to a service provider’s office in Kano to have an unsolicited caller tune cancelled and his money returned.
He however noted that an unsolicited and “embarrassing” caller tune played on his phone a few days later.
“Mr. Speaker, they played a caller tune, ‘My Sweetie, my lover’. It is immoral to do such a thing by sending such tunes to subscribers who did not subscribe to them,” Madaki added.
Femi Gbajabiamila, House Majority Leader, described such acts carried out by service providers as “harassment and invasion of privacy.” He reminded the House that besides the powers conferred on NCC by the enabling Act, there were laws that guaranteed the privacy of Nigerians.
He cited Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), noting that when the privacy of individuals was invaded, they could seek the protection of the law.
“If you invade my telephone with unsolicited information, there should be a penalty for it,” he said.
