Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, has received praise from the National Consumers Advocacy Network for a new regulation requiring telecom companies to reimburse customers for subpar network quality.
The group called the instruction a “consumer-centered intervention” that puts Nigerians’ interests at the center of telecom regulation in a statement released on Tuesday and signed by its president, Tobi Olanrewaju.
The association said that several operators have already started repaying impacted users with airtime and claimed that the policy signifies a change from regulatory tolerance to accountability.
“Nigerian telecom subscribers have endured suboptimal service quality for years with little or no consequence for operators,” the statement said.
Under Dr. Aminu Maida, it is evident that regulatory control must result in real advantages for consumers. This is about rebuilding confidence in the system, not just about compensation.
The program, according to the group, is a real-world illustration of responsive leadership that complies with international regulations.
It further stated that the choice to automatically compensate subscribers without requiring their complaints shows an awareness of the difficulties they encounter.
“This intervention recognizes a basic premise that the customer should not bear the burden of service failure.
The Commission has established a new standard for regulatory innovation in Nigeria by guaranteeing that reimbursement is automatic and directly connected to actual service disruption at the local level, the statement continued.
The group also applauded the NCC’s choice to track service quality at the Local Government Area level, characterizing it as a move that more truly reflects the actual user experience.
It added that the program goes beyond short-term relief, citing continuous initiatives to encourage telecom carriers to invest in infrastructure.
It is especially admirable that the Commission is pressuring operators to make investments in network improvements rather than focusing only on compensation.
It stated, “This dual approach ensures that the root causes of poor service are being systematically addressed while consumers receive immediate value for past deficiencies.”
The group further stated that telecom providers’ announced pledge to increase infrastructure investment demonstrates the efficacy of strict but beneficial regulation.
It advised telecom companies to see the mandate as a chance to enhance service delivery and restore public confidence.
“Policies that directly impact Nigerians’ daily lives must be prioritized at a time when they are struggling with economic pressures,” the statement stated.
“Dr. Maida has shown that regulations can be an effective tool for social and economic justice when implemented correctly.”
In order to raise service quality across the country, NCAN reiterated its support for the NCC’s changes and urged continued cooperation between operators, consumers, and regulators.
It further stated that long-term gains in network performance nationwide would be used to gauge the policy’s success in addition to the compensation already given.
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