Good News For Nigerians As FG Orders DSTV, GOtv, to Change Its Mode of Operation in Favour of Consumers.
Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DSTV and GOtv, has been directed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, an agency of the Nigerian Government, to increase the number of times subscribers are able to suspend their subscriptions to at least four times a year.
It was gathered that MultiChoice has an existing arrangement that allows subscribers to suspend accounts for a fixed period between seven to 14 days twice yearly.
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However, in a recent statement by Tam Tamunokonbia, director, legal services, FCCPC, the commission also directed the satellite television company to allow customers to maintain the same subscription fee for a minimum period of one year.
The commission said these resolutions were reached after an investigation into allegations of abuse of dominance by the company.
In 2020, FCCPC had launched an investigation into pay-TV service providers in the country for possible violations of consumer rights.
Before now, MultiChoice had faced court cases regarding anti-competitive behaviour and customer exploitation.
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In 2019, FCCPC issued a directive regarding consumer protection and service responsiveness following ‘incessant complaints’.
However, in its latest order, FCCPC directed Multichoice to introduce a price lock option that allows subscribers to maintain the same subscription fee for a minimum period of one year subject to a contractual agreement that clearly specifies the applicable terms and conditions.
It also directed the company to carry out a clear communication to each subscriber regarding all channels available within selected bouquet option.
The new guideline added that Multichoice must provide complete toll-free customer service lines which are operational 24 hours daily, and through which consumers may receive support concerning their use of the services offered.
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These lines must be toll-free across networks, not only within the same networks as is presently the case.
“Advertise the existing toll-free customer service lines more frequently and more widely on channels available and under the control of MultiChoice on the DStv and GOtv platforms. Such advertisement must run on each channel at least daily,” the statement reads.
“Increase the number of times all subscribers may suspend their subscription up to at least four (4) times annually.
“Submit to the Commission a compliance report demonstrating full compliance with the above orders within the time stipulated in the commission’s order of February 4, 2022.”
The commission further warned that a violation of its order attracts a fine/penalty of N5 million.
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed the people behind the tagging of his principal as a religious bigot.
Mr. Adesina explained that President was demarketed as a religious bigot in his first three attempts to become the President of Nigeria.
The move, he said, had been the strategy of those who had a dark past and was afraid the President’s uprightness and incorruptibility may affect their chances going forward.
According to him, it was a narrative deliberately concocted and conjured by those who were afraid of the probity and integrity he could bring into public office.
Mr. Adesina stated this in his article titled, ‘Buhari, Osinbajo and the bigotry question’, shared on his Facebook page on Thursday.
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He added that after the bigotry narrative gave way after the President realised his dream in 2015, and chose Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a Redeemed Pastor, as his second in command.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is a man that had been serially de-marketed, flagellated, and excoriated as a religious bigot.
“It was a narrative deliberately concocted and conjured by those who were afraid of the probity and integrity he could bring into public office.
“They tarred him with the brush of bigotry, which hindered the man from attaining the presidency for a long while.
“But every lie has an expiry date. A time came when the public no longer bought the jejune argument.
“Pro-Buhari forces fought back vigorously. One of them was eminent virologist, Prof Tam David-West (God rest his soul). He wrote a book with the title ‘16 Sins of Muhammadu Buhari,’ in which he debunked the lies being told against the former military head of state. One of them was the allegation of being a religious bigot.
“A larger number of Nigerians got to understand that the bigotry tag was fake, false, an attempt to give the dog a bad name, in order to hang it. Muhammadu Buhari coasted to office as President in 2015, after three earlier trials.
“But there is still a remnant that maintains its entrenched position. And they are the ones who look down on us Christians, for going to “work with a Fulani Muslim, a jihadist who does not want to see Christians at all.” True? False.
Highlighting the President’s level of religious tolerance, Adesina wrote, “Who else can you trust more than the man (or woman) that cooks or serves your meal? Possibly nobody. Buhari has Christian cooks, male and female.
“And who can you also trust more than the man that drives you? He can decide to do bad, bad things to you. Buhari has Christian drivers.”
He added, “As the administration winds down (in 14 months) I pray for grace to be able to document my experiences with this President. People would then realize how unfair they’ve been to him. A man more sinned against, rather than sinning.”
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