The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is concluding processes to issue regulation on Electronic Waste as part of its commitment to protecting the rights of telecoms consumers.
As part of activities to mark the 2021 World Consumer Rights Day,the National Communication Commission NCC has assured of it’s commitment to promote consumer centric initiatives and policies.
Speaking at the World Consumer Rights Day, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta reiterated that all activities of the Commission are designed to give assurance to the consumers that their interests are of paramount importance to the Commission.
Danbatta whose opening remarks at the virtual event addressed the theme of the World Consumer Rights Day, ‘Tackling Plastic Pollution’ assured millions of telecom consumers across the country that the Commission will not rest on its oars until the challenges of telecoms consumers have been reduced to the barest minimum.
The NCC boss in his speech titled: ‘Consumer Satisfaction: A Central Organizing Principle of our Regulatory Activities’, said that it is mindful of the fact that many ICT and telecom devices have plastic components, whose waste materials could worsen plastic pollution.
He said the Commission is concluding the processes to issue regulation on Electronic Waste, barring in mind that many ICT and telecom devices have plastic components, whose waste materials could worsen plastic pollution.
According to him, the Commission is worried by the recurrent cycle of fraudulent deployment of fake and substandard mobile devices – usually made of iron and plastic components, collaborated with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other relevant government agencies to inaugurate a committee to implement Mobile Devices Management Systems (DMS).
To mitigate the trend, Danbatta said that Commission implemented a strict type-approval process that ensures all equipment used in the telecommunications industry are of a suitable standard, both for the good of the consumers and for the preservation of our environment.
He disclosed that the Commission has reviewed the Consumer Complaint categories and Service Level Agreement (CC/SLA) noting that the CC/SLA provides complaints categories, the timelines for resolving complaints and prescribes penalties for defaulting operators.
The objective of the Regulation is to manage E-Waste; promote reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery; improve environmental management system of operators in the telecom industry; and reduce greenhouse emissions as well as enhance sustainable development efforts.
Danbatta further stated that activities and actions slated for this commemoration are to raise awareness and engage state and non-state actors on the global plastic pollution crisis.
He also stated the the expected result of this initiative is that, only genuine materials malleable to enduring usage are available for consumer use.
He said the Commission has also also implemented a strict type-approval process that ensures all equipment used in the telecommunications industry are of a suitable standard, both for the good of the consumers and for the preservation of our environment.
