Teddy Oscar, Abuja
The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Communications to probe the unwholesome practices in marketing promotions by MTN and other telecommunication service providers in Nigeria.
The report, which should reach the House within four weeks, follows a joint motion of Hon. Eddie Mbadiwe and Hon. Frank Enokorogha, who drew the attention of the House to allegations of ‘unethical business practices’ by MTN and other telecommunication service providers whereby the telecom outfits send incessant text messages to subscribers, asking them to opt into certain sales promotions, and charging them fees even when such subscribers do not partake in the promotions.
The duo, who pointed out that millions of Naira have been raked in by the companies, added that “innocent citizens, who have not subscribed to some of these sales gimmicks are being charged without authorisation and credit refunds are refused when demanded.”
They further argued that, if the trend is not checked, Nigerians would continue to unlawfully lose their hard earned money without hope of any redress.
In a related development, House committee on information has been mandated to intervene in the ongoing rift between the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (IBAN) on the one hand, and the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) on the other.
The House also directed the airplay ban slammed on songs of COSON members by BON and IBAN be withdrawn, and gave the committee four weeks to turn in its report.
These were sequel to a motion brought by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson, House committee on Diaspora, under matters of urgent public importance.
Dabiri-Erewa noted that the ongoing rift between BON, IBAN and COSON should not be allowed to degenerate into a bigger crisis, urging the House, to through its committee on information, urgently intervene in the matter.
COSON is the sole Copyright Management Organisation approved by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to act on behalf of authors, composers, performers, publishers of Musical works and owners of sound recordings in Nigeria.
The Mr. Tony Okoroji-led body in a bid to have some broadcast stations pay alleged large sums of money owed as royalties for music airplay to its members had dragged the stations to court, prompting BON and IBAN to place a ban on the airing of songs by artistes who are members of COSON, beginning from December 15, 2013.
But Dabiri-Erewa, who, in her submission, argued that the decision, if implemented, “it would impact negatively on our image,” added that the impasse could be amicably resolved through dialogue.
