NCC, an errand boy to MTN, other telcos says Prof Akinyanju

A professor and retired lecturer, Poju Akinyanju, has described the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, as a quisling appendage, no better than an errand boy, in his recent disagreement with telecommunication giant, MTN, over alleged customer exploitation.

Prof Akinyanju describes instances where he was forcefully migrated to different tariffs without his consent, leading to loss of data and frustration in trying to resolve the issues with the company.

In detailed chat with diasporadigital.com and a searing syndicated article, the professor draws attention to what he describes as exploitation by telephone companies in Nigeria while also decrying the near lack of regulation in the industry.

The former chairman, Academic Staff Union of University, University of Ilorin branch, accused MTN of being exploitative.

According to him, situations like this is rampant in a capitalist system.

Professor Prof Akinyanju  is of socialist bent in ideology.

He highlights the lack of effective regulation and consumer protection in the country, leading to situations where companies like MTN can exploit customers without facing consequences.

He made his observation from personal encounters with MTN.

Despite reaching out to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for assistance, he found that the regulatory agency was ineffective in addressing his complaints and merely acted as a messenger between him and MTN.

Akinyanju points out that this lack of accountability and responsiveness from regulatory agencies like the NCC allows companies to continue exploiting consumers, denying them the value of their purchases and profiting unfairly.

He criticizes the attitude of companies towards customer complaints, noting their condescension and unwillingness to rectify mistakes.

In his article titled ‘ Extortion of the people by telecommunication companies: The case of MTN’ the academic also touches upon the limitations consumers face in switching to alternative service providers due to factors like network coverage and the lack of significant competition in the market.

He emphasizes the need for regulatory agencies to fulfill their responsibilities in protecting consumer rights and holding companies accountable for their actions.

Overall, the professor highlights the challenges faced by consumers in a poorly regulated capitalist system, where companies like MTN can engage in practices that harm customers without facing meaningful consequences.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook