Debate
Nigerian are shortchanged by GSM operators, by Senator Ayogu Eze
The matter before us is so grave that we cannot just give it the kind of cursory treatment that it is receiving this afternoon and believe that we have sufficiently dealt with it.
My suggestion, therefore, is that we approach this matter in two ways. First, we should exercise our powers on behalf of Nigerians, by condemning the observed lapses. I do not subscribe to the views that we should invite NCC (National Communications Commission) or the Service Providers before we can observe what we have noticed to be the fact.
The issue is that the quality of services that they are giving to Nigerians is very slipshod. You spend man-hours that would have been vested in productive ventures in trying to get across and the calls would not go and all the phones are switched off. These are observable and provable difficulties.
So, the issue of pandering to the whims and caprices of the businessmen, who come here and are ripping our people off, does not arise in my own opinion. The questions we should ask ourselves are as follows: Are the issues we are tackling today true? Are the views and comments we are going to pass fair? If the answers to these are yes, then in my opinion, our responsibility on behalf of those who brought us here is done, which is to make sure that at all times they get a fair deal.
I even think that the scope of this discussion should be widened to include other Private Telephone Operators (PTOs) who provide Code Division Multiplication Access (CDMA) across different divisions within Nigeria. Their calls also drop; their performances are also slipshod and they are under the direct supervision of the NCC.
I believe that we should go ahead with the motion before us, which is a very commendable one and thereafter allow our committee on Communications, when it is constituted, to conduct a wholesome inquiry into what is happening in this sector. We all read newspapers; we all listen to news and tons of naira is declared as dividend on yearly basis and we sit here and pretend as if we do not understand what is happening.
I know that one of the companies in question – I do not want to mention names – has boasted to the entire world that its operation in Nigeria is the most profitable compared to its operations elsewhere across the globe. So, what are we talking about? They are declaring trillions of naira profit of our money that is taken without due account and we are here talking about investigating the laws.
The principles and rules of engagement in business are very straightforward. I pay you for services and you provide me impeccable services. So, we are saying here today that based on what we have received, we have been given the short end of the stick. We have not got credible service that is commensurate with the money that we pay on daily basis.
It is just because Nigerians are not accountable people. On daily basis, an average user of a GSM or CDMA line loses between N200 and N1,000 depending on your cadre in the society. But because our society is one that does not give deep thought to such minute issues, we gloss it over and we pass on as if nothing is happening.
My view is that we should go ahead and even strengthen the Resolutions that we are going to make, to bring into being a situation where they are going to be compelled to put mechanism in place, whereby either on your telephone or whichever means, you can determine how much rip-off you have suffered on daily basis.
This is possible because we are dealing with digital age. It is possible with the touch of a button. If you can make transfer from one account to the other while sitting in our room, you can do it on your GSM phone as well. I believe that the issue is not about toning down or up of our language but addressing it squarely the way it is.
Contribution to the motion on recent deterioration of GMS services in Nigeria. Culled from The Guardian on Sunday, July 8, 2007
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