FG Directs Telecom Operators To End Automatic Voicemail Service

The end seems to be on the way for mobile network users who have been complaining of arbitrary charge impose on voicemail calls by telecom companies, if the directive of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Patanmi,  is anything to go by.

Patanmi has directed mobile network providers to put an end to automatic voicemail services in the country.

The minister’s directive was contained in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Mrs Uwa Suleiman which said that many subscribers are complaining of the service which is an indication that operators were exploiting them with the service.

The Minister stated that such a service should be optional to subscribers and not by default.

He said, “Our attention has been drawn to the latest trend of financial exploitation by mobile network operators in the country, through the automatic activation of the voicemail service on their platforms. Based on recent reports reaching the office, the practice has gained momentum in recent times,

“The voicemail service should be accessed at the discretion of the subscriber and not by default.”

The minister expressed worry that telecom subscribers were made to incur financial charges for a service they were compelled to use.

He directed the Nigerian Communications Commission to ensure that operators gave subscribers an option for accessing the service via an activation code.

 “Voicemail is not a popular service among mobile phone users in Nigeria, coupled with the language challenge among rural dwellers, who mostly do not understand the language deployed by these networks.

“It is apparent that the recent clampdown on the exploitative activities of some mobile network operators in the country has beamed the searchlights on the sector properly, and some unpatriotic elements in the system are devising subtle, ingenious methods of defrauding Nigerians.”

Patanmi said the ministry would not condone practices by telcos that would defraud Nigerians of their money regardless of how subtle it was.

The statement said, “In the light of this, Pantami has issued a broad policy directive to the sector regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission, to immediately ensure that issues regarding automatic voicemails are addressed on all existing phone lines and the subscribers, given the option of accessing the service via an activation code.”

However, mobile network operators have described the order issued by the minister on voicemail as an unnecessary interference.

The operators, who are members of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, said the matter was a mere consumer-related issue that the minister referred to as a policy issue.

But the association, in a statement by its Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, and Operations Manager, Gbolahan Awonuga, disclosed that Sections 23 and 24 of the Nigeria Communications Act empowered the minister to formulate general policy for the communications sector.

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