House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Communications to investigate alleged unwholesome practices by telecommunication operators in Nigeria.
The lawmakers drew the attention of the House to allegations of “unethical” practices by telcos that send text messages to subscribers, asking them to partake in certain sales promotions, and charging them fees even when such subscribers do not partake in the promotions.
They said the companies have garnered millions of naira and that “innocent citizens who have not subscribed to some of these sales gimmicks are being charged without authorisation and credit refunds are refused when demanded.”
The lawmakers noted that there is a need to checked the trend or “Nigerians would continue to unlawfully lose their hard earned money without hope of any redress.”
The resolution is sequel to a motion jointly sponsored by Reps. Eddie Mbadiwe (PDP-Imo) and Frank Enokorogha (PDP-Delta) and adopted without debate.
According to Mbadiwe, the companies have raked in millions of naira as innocent citizens who have not subscribed to some of their sales promotions are being charged without authorisation.
He said the companies had also refused such citizens credit refunds when demanded.
Mbadiwe said if the trend was not checked, Nigerians would continue to lose their hard earned money without hope of any redress.
The committee is expected to submit its findings within four weeks.
The House also mandated its Committee on Information to intervene in the rift between the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN).
The committee is expected to report its findings to the House within one month.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Rep. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (APC-Lagos), which was adopted without debate.
She said the ongoing rift between BON, IBAN and COSON should not be allowed to degenerate into a bigger crisis.
Tony Okoroji-led COSON has taken some broadcasting stations in the country to court over alleged debt.
Okoroji wants the broadcasting organisations to pay large sums of money they owed COSON’s members as royalties. As a reaction, BON and IBAN have placed a ban, with effect from 15 December on the airing of songs by artistes who are members of COSON.
However, Dabiri-Erewa said the decision of BON and IBAN, if implemented, ‘would impact negatively on our image’. She urged the parties involved to resolve the impasse amicably through dialogue.