By Frank Momoh
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Ibrahim Isa Pantami, has ordered the Nigerian Communications Commission
to deactivate all existing voicemails services on any Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
Mrs. Uwa Suleiman, the Minister’s Spokesperson, in a statement said the minister regards as being exploitative the use of voicemails on mobile networks.
The service according to the minister should be accessed at the discretion of the subscriber and not by default.
The Minister said it is unacceptable that telecoms subscribers incur financial charges for a service they are compelled to use by default.
He said: “Voicemail is not a popular service among mobile phone users in Nigeria coupled with the language challenge among rural dwellers who mostly do not understand the language deployed by these networks.
“It is apparent, that the recent clampdown on the exploitative activities of some operators in the country, has beamed the searchlight on the sector properly, and some unpatriotic elements in the system are devising subtle, ingenious methods of defrauding Nigerians.” He said.
According to him, he will neither overlook any acts, regardless of how subtle, that undermine the anti corruption crusade of the present government nor condone any attempts to defraud Nigerians and indeed, all subscribers.
NCC, he said should immediately ensure that issues regarding automatic voicemails are addressed on all existing phone lines and the subscribers, given the option of accessing the service via an activation code.
It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the rights of consumers are protected, while providing a conducive business environment for telecom companies in line with global best practice.