Director General, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Babatunde Irukera
EPPAN laments gradual shopper training on digital pamyent
National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) have kicked against the risk by telecommunications operators of attainable hike in tariff for knowledge and voice companies if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) succeeded in imposing zero.005 per cent levy on all digital transactions.
The levy is to be transferred into a National Cyber Security Fund account on the CBN.
The Director-General, CPC, Babatunde Irukera, who spoke on the sideline of first yearly nationwide media workshop organised by Electronic Payment Providers Association (EPPAN) in Lagos, mentioned the CBN directive was not a justifiable cause for telecommunication operators to extend tariff for knowledge and voice companies within the sector.
Recall that about two weeks in the past, the President of the Association of Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ATCON), Olusola Teniola, at a media briefing, had pressured that if the cyber safety stage is allowed to sail via, operators could also be pressured to move the price subscribers.
However, the CPC Chief argued that will probably be tantamount to unfair follow if the operators go forward to place the price of the service shoppers didn't take pleasure in on them by means of their risk to extend enterprise and retail companies within the sector.
“What shopper will settle for is honest and clear cause that straight accepts the service they loved. We will not be snug with the operators to switch the price of their enterprise that doesn't affiliate with the service they supply that we are going to not be accepted.
“So I think the telcos should seek redress on the CBN’s directive to the banks on the collection of 0.005 per cent levy on all electronic transactions into a National Cyber Security Fund account. And not make subscribers to pay the running cost of their business,” he mentioned.
Also, President of NATCOMS, Deolu Ogunbanjo, condemned the risk to extend tariff fees for subscribers, stating that new digital transaction levy of zero.005 per cent as mirrored in new Cyber Crime Bill will add burden on already laden telecoms subscribers and shoppers within the E-payment sector if applied.
He mentioned: “The zero.005 per cent e-transaction implementation shall be a direct burden on the already laden subscribers within the telecommunication sector.
“Please operators ought to work with the business regulator (Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and look be certain that authorities isn't including extra accountability that can in-turn be transferred on subscribers.
“I'm so certain the Cyber Crime invoice didn't say telecommunication subscribers ought to be ripped off.’
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of EPPAN, Onajite Regha, mentioned the theme of the discussion board: ‘Promoting Digital Literacy to Enhance Public Confidence,’ was well timed as a result of shopper training on digital fee system continues to be low within the nation.
The discussion board facilitators urged media to be abreast with appropriate and validated info on the problems within the sector to have the ability to disseminate full-strength coverage assertion and business points objectively.