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  • Bilesanmi Sends 2022 New Year Message To Nigerians, Reveals How ATCIS Efforts Made FG To Extend NIN-SIM Linkage Till 31st March

    Bilesanmi Sends 2022 New Year Message To Nigerians, Reveals How ATCIS Efforts Made FG To Extend NIN-SIM Linkage Till 31st March

     

    The National President of the Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS), Prince Sina Bilesanmi has revealed how the passionate pleas made by members of association to  the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) led to the extension of the deadline for the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to the 31st of March, 2022.

     

    The deadline earlier announced by the Federal Government was Friday,  December 31, 2021.

     

    In his New Year message to Nigerians, which was made available to journalists in Lagos, the ATCIS National President, who tagged the extension as ‘last minute miracle achievement for year 2021, said the major reason for asking for the extension during the two-day meeting with the Minister was a result of  record which shows that with almost 191 million subscribers, only less than 70 million subscribers have linked their NIN- SIM.

     

    Bilesanmi noted;  “Our association demanded for more days simply because with almost 191 million subscribers, record show that only less than 70 million Subscribers have linked their NIN- SIM, in this case, what happen to the 101 million subscribers?More so, NIMC has not really been making progress with what they promised us as citizens.”

     

    Prince Sina Bilesanmi thanked the Federal Government for giving millions of subscribers another opportunity.

     

    He sought for collaboration with the Ministry as 5G is about to be lunched come 2022 as he also applauded the efforts of the respective staff in ensuring a seamless NIN-SIM linkage and urge Telephone Subscriber’s citizen and legal residents that are yet to complete the process of enrolment, verification, and SIM linkage on or before 31st March 2022.

     

    He however advised  subscribers to be careful with their phones noting  that any crime committed on their phones, they will be responsible for it.

     

    The Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) is the leading masses telecom advocacy body that promotes Subscriber interests as well as defends Subscriber right in Nigeria with over 190 million Subscribers membership strength across six geopolitical zone in Nigeria.

     

    In ATCIS effort, the association has made over 730 newspaper press released publications, both local and international as well as online news publications, Radio and National Television Station Interviews with about 230 Success achievements so far to the benefit of Subscribers across the country.

     

    ATCIS want it to be on record of history that our association has spent about #450 million naira since 2014 till 31st December 2021,which has been on self -sponsored by members without government agency’s in Nigeria.

     

    The government had come up with the mandatory NIN-SIM linkage exercise on December 9, 2020, with a deadline of December 31st, 2021 for all subscribers to comply or get blocked from the networks. It has, however, extended the deadline several times since then.

     

    Announcing the latest extension in a statement jointly signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, and the Head of Corporate Communications of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Mr. Kayode Adegoke, the government said the extension followed requests by stakeholders.

     

    “Following the request by Subscriber body call ATCIS, other stakeholders, including citizens, legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora, the Federal Government has extended the deadline of the exercise to the 31st of March, 2022. This extension would enable the Federal Government to consolidate the gains of the process and accelerate the enrolment of Nigerians in key areas like the remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, and the registration of legal residents,” the statement.

     

    It added that the  stakeholders have also applauded the Federal Government on the significant growth in the number of NIN enrolments and the increased drive to enlighten Nigerian Subscribers and legal residents across the country. “As of 30th December 2021, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over seventy-one million (71million) NINs with over fourteen-thousand (14,000) enrolment centres set up across the country,” it disclosed.

     

    “Furthermore, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has also set up enrolment centres in over thirty-one (31) countries to cater for Nigerians in the Diaspora.  The unprecedented growth in the National Identity Database to over 71 million unique NINs in such a short period, with about 3 to 4 SIMs linked to a NIN, reflects the concerted effort of the Federal Government, the Nigerian populace and legal residents and this is truly commendable.

     

    “The Honourable Minister has, however, implored ATCIS the subscriber body and legal residents to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs during this period of extension as more services will be requiring the NIN for identification. He also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to support the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in ensuring that the objectives of the exercise are achieved.

     

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  • FG Finally Bows To ATCIS’ Pressure, Lifts Ban On Activation of New SIMs

    FG Finally Bows To ATCIS’ Pressure, Lifts Ban On Activation of New SIMs

     

    In line with the persistent agitations by the Association of Telephone, Cable and Internet Subscribers, ATCIS, the Federal Government has lifted the ban on new Subscribers Identification Module (SIMs) card registration, as it fixed Monday, April 19, 2021 as the effective date for implementation.

     

    The latest development was contained in revised National Digital Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

     

    The government however placed NIN registration as mandatory for registering new SIM cards.

     

    A statement by Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Femi Adeluyi, reads in part: “The implementation of the Policy will commence on Monday, 19th of April 2021.

     

    “The issuance of New SIMs and other suspended activities will resume on the same date, as long as verification is done and the guidelines are fully adhered to.

     

    “The Minister has also directed NCC and NIMC to ensure that the provisions of the Policy are strictly followed by all operators and subscribers.

     

    “The Policy includes Guidelines on New SIM Acquisition and Activation, SIM Replacement, New SIM Activation for Corporates and Internet-of-Things/Machine-to-Machine (IoT/M2M), amongst others.

     

     “The possession of a National Identity number will be a prerequisite for each of these categories. For the Corporate registration, institutions will be required to appoint a Telecoms Master (at the minimum of an Executive Management level) to provide the operational Primary NIN representation.

     

    “The Telecoms Master will also be responsible for ensuring that the users provide their NINs to serve as a Secondary NIN.

     

    “For IoT/M2M activations, SIM security protocols would be implemented on the SIM profile to ensure that SIMs can only be used for point to point data services specific to the URL they are working with. All other services will be barred.”

     

    Reacting to the development, the ATCIS National President, Hon Sina Bilesanmi lauded the federal government for listening to the voices of the subscribers by ending the ban which he said would also go a long way in ending the suffering of Nigerian youths.

     

    The association, he noted, had written several memos to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy on the need to reverse the ban as the suspension of new SIM cards registration had in the last four months rendered over two million youths jobless across the country thereby worsening the security challenges the government was trying to address.

     

    While reiterating that more than 10 billion in revenues have been lost by the telecoms partners in last four months, Bilesanmi noted that over 1 billion in VAT and withholding tax has also been lost by the Federal Government due to the policy.

     

    Specifically, several Nigerian citizens have been subjected to hardship due to miscalculated policies of the NCC as majority of the telecoms business partners, staff and the agents are within the age bracket 20 to 40 years, while income in the value chain is determined by the number of activations /SIM registration carried out within every month, hence leaving them jobless for too long.

    .

    The ATCIS President also reiterated his call on the Federal Government especially the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to always invite the association to meetings before critical decisions are taken.

     

    “It is very important for the minister to always call us to meetings. We are the representatives of the Nigerian subscribers. Our inputs are also critical to the development of the ministry especially in terms of digital economy,” Bilesanmi said.

     

    Meanwhile, the ATCIS President said due to the latest development whereby the registration and activation of new SIM cards is expected to commence on Monday, April 19, 2021, the association’s Success Stories Press Conference earlier scheduled to hold on same day in Lagos, has been postponed.  

     

    According to him, the ATCIS Success Stories Press Conference would now hold on Monday May 3, 2021.

     

    The ATCIS is the umbrella body of telephone, cable and internet subscribers in Nigeria cutting across the six geographical areas of the nation.

     

    Speaking on determination of the association to continue speaking and fighting for the rights of Nigerian telephone and cable subscribers, Bilesanmi said over the years, in its sustained effort in protecting the interest and right of telecoms subscribers in Nigeria, ATCIS has spent about N367million since 2014 till 31st January, 2021which has basically been on self-sponsored by members without government agency like NCC, NBC and NIMC input.

     

    The association has made over 630 newspaper publications, both local and international as well as online news publication, Radio and National Television Station Interviews with about 95 landmark achievements so far.

     

  • ATCIS, Subscribers Frown At New USSD Charge, Threaten To Go To Court

    ATCIS, Subscribers Frown At New USSD Charge, Threaten To Go To Court

     

    Nigerian subscribers have expressed dissatisfaction with the new Unstructured Supplementary Service Data service charge of N6.98 as they have threatened to take legal action as soon as the new USSD service charge takes effect.

     

    The Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission had announced that USSD services for financial transactions would be charged at a flat rate fee of N6.98 per transaction.

     

    This followed threats by the Mobile Network Operators to withdraw the USSD services from the banks due to an outstanding debt of over N42bn.

     

    The Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers, ATCIS has expressed displeasure over the new USSD service charge.

     

    The ATCIS National President, Sina Bilesanmi, said the charge was unacceptable and must be rejected by every bank account holder.

     

    “It is exploitative and this dictatorial act must stop forthwith. I am amazed that the same CBN that was initially opposed to the unjustified increase in USSD service charge in 2019 now made the announcement of the hike,” Bilesanmi said.

     

    The ATCIS president called for the immediate reversal of the USSD service charge.

     

    “If the Central Bank of Nigeria and telecommunication companies did not revert to the previous rate, we shall institute a legal action against them,” he added.

     

    Speaking in the same vein, the President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers of Nigeria, Deolu Ogunbanjo, also described the charge as a step back from financial inclusion.

     

    According to him, it was unacceptable that the quarrel between the banks and the telecom operators was resolved by taxing subscribers

     

    He said the banks should have rather been charged.

     

    “Everything in telecoms that’s meant to put smiling faces on subscriber faces is now being eroded. Why should they increase the USSD transaction fee? It’s appalling and condemnable, and we’ll take it up with them,” Ogunbajo said.

     

    He stated that the group would take the banks to court if the charge gets implemented.

     

    Analysing the N6.98 fee’s impact on financial inclusion, financial expert, Tunji Andrews, said the fee would be a major deterrent to using the channel.

     

    He noted that though the fee structure was cheaper on the average, it was a real time cost which meant customers would see it as a standalone debit.

     

     “This may not go down too well with the majority who use the service. It is unlikely to increase the use of the USSD channels as it realistically does not hold a drastic change for users. It can however reduce the use of USSD, if not properly managed,” he said.

     

    Andrews was also of the opinion that banks should have borne the charge instead of the subscribers.

     

    He stated that, “It is still a banking transaction, enabled by the USSD service. I’m sure telcos would like to run a banking transaction similar to M-Pesa (mobile money transfer service in Kenya) but ours is a bank led environment that puts the power and most of the profit in the hands of the banks.

     

    “The banks should have carried the fee, especially if the goal is financial inclusion. USSD is meant to be a sunk cost, an enabler to bringing more of those without smartphones into the fold.”

     

    However,  the National Coordinator, Alliance for Affordable Internet, Olusola Teniola said the N6.98 USSD charge is a fair fee and could be viewed as a lower cost of using the USSD platform to interact with financial services.

     

    Teniola stated, “I think this is just a way forward. It would improve the financial inclusion that the country needs to move it from its current position to 80 per cent financial inclusion.”

     

    “We always were seeking an amicable resolution to the debts that are outstanding

     

    And I believe that’s certain to happen now that there has been an intervention by the minister.”

  • Pay-Per-View: Bilesanmi Reads The Riot Act To Pay-Tv Operators as ATCIS Celebrates 2021 World Consumer Right Day

    Pay-Per-View: Bilesanmi Reads The Riot Act To Pay-Tv Operators as ATCIS Celebrates 2021 World Consumer Right Day

    By ADEBAYO Adeniyi
    The National President of the Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS), Hon Prince Sina Bilesanmi has expressed disappointment with the Pay TV operators in the country over their failure to implement the much desired pay-per-view regime by Nigerians.

     

    Bilesanmi made this known as the association joined the rest of the world to mark the Year 2021 World Consumer/ Subscriber Rights Day on 15th March 2021 in Port Harcourt.

     

    The Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) is the nation’s number one subscriber advocacy body promoting subscribers’ interests as well as defending their rights with over 208 million telephone subscriber members across the six geopolitical areas of Nigeria.

     

    Since it was founded in 2014, ATCIS has been the leading telecom masses advocate.

     

    Speaking with his Excos members and press men at Port Harcourt in River State on his determination to continue to “SORO SO KE”, meaning speaking out and fighting for the rights of Nigerian Telephone, Cable TV and Internet subscribers, Hon Sina Bilesanmi aka OJUEKO, said over the years, in its sustained effort in protecting the interest and right of telecoms subscribers in Nigeria, the association, ATCIS has spent about N370 million since 2014 till date which has basically been on self- sponsored by members without Government agency like NCC, NBC,FCCPC and NIMC input.

     

    The association, he said, has made over 700 newspaper publications, both local and international as well as online news publication, radio and national television stations Interviews with about 98 landmark achievements so far.

     

    The ATCIS National President noted; “You and I have seen that indirectly, the operators of PAY TV control by NBC in Nigeria are doing everything to take us back to the past, when only a few people could afford to use the service. This may not be their direct action, but by implications, it is just more or less the same.

     

    “Today, we say NO to extortion of Nigerians by pay-tv operators in the country who have refused to listen to the laws of the land, pains and cries of the people as all they want is keep milking Nigerian subscribers even at a critical time such as this.”

     

    Bilesanmi said all subscribers in Nigeria are totally ashamed and disappointed with Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director of Multichoice, operators of DSTV/GOTV based on his response on Pay-As –You Go.

     

    Ugbe had said the company would not be able to implement the policy of PAYGO.

     

    According to him, Pay Per View (PPV), is most times confused for PAYGO model deployed by mobile telecommunication companies.

     

    The PAYGO model as offered in the telecommunication business is a metered service where consumers are billed only for the service they consume and not for a fixed period.

     

    However, the ATCIS President said with whatever figure out there, he believed the time the operators have spent in Nigeria is enough for them to learn how to treat Nigerian subscribers with fairness and empathy, given how much they make yearly from their operations in the country.

     

    He said on the contrary however, they have continued to be insensitive and nonchalant.

     

    “From where we stand, ATCIS can say that these people lack regards for subscribers satisfaction and sense of social responsibility.

    “To clear any doubt, this attribute manifested as the operators insisted on hiking subscription rates in Nigeria, even at the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic which had already wrecked havoc on the means of livelihood of many Nigerians.

     

    “MultiChoice and Startimes, for instance, insisted on collecting more from Nigerians. It was hell bent that Nigerians must pay more for the same service even when they earn less.

     

    Speaking further, Bilesanmi said; “On this matter, we have met MultiChoice and Startimes with a couple of times to iron things out. All our efforts and messages have been falling on deaf ears. In other countries, operators have had to soft-pedal on price increase in order not to burden their subscribers unnecessarily.”

     

    He noted that ATCIS remains resolute to ensure that pay-TV subscribers in Nigeria are treated with fairness by the operators.

     

    “We stand against price hikes that smack of extortion and exploitation. The fact that Nigerians are getting used to the pay-tv services does not mean we should be incurring more cost than necessary, especially as majority of the people spend only few hours to access the content. There should be fairness in pricing.”

     

    According to him, Pay-per-view is the way to go.

     

    “We have said this over and over again. The only thing that we want to say is that, pay-tv subscribers from the jaws of the operators are to start running Pay-per-view model. Years have passed and we are still on this matter. We are not asking the operators to give us the service pro bono, all we are saying is: let us pay only for what we watch and nothing more.

     

    “We are aware that ATCIS, the initiators who pushed pay as you go to Senate/House of Representative Committee on Communications recently summoned one of the operators to talk about the possibility of running pay-per-view subscription model in Nigeria. Of course, the response of the operators will always be predictable. They will keep telling us that technically, pay-per-view is not possible.

     

    “We are not surprised to hear this however. Something similar had happened before when we were made to believe that per seconds billing of GSM voice service was an illusion. But later, the impossibility suddenly became a possibility when another operator introduced per second billing system.

     

    “So, we refuse to buy the idea that pay-per-view is not possible in Nigeria because this same model is being used in some other countries.

     

    “We insist that there must be a new subscription regime for pay-tv operation in Nigeria. Even if the current subscription model would be retained, we need pay-per-view model to be another option. This will give people a choice.

     

    Speaking on NBC, Bilesanmi said ATCIS is worried to see that after the Nigerian authorities gave directives to the operators, Startimes, especially MultiChoice, the owner DSTV/GOTV to reduce subscription rates and introduce pay-per-view model, nothing has changed despite the clamour of the people’s.

     

    “To our utter disbelief, nobody has been sanctioned or called to face the music. We sometimes wonder if our government authorities are truly for us; or if at all they even possess the nerve to face those that are violating the laws of the land. Extortion of the people via pricing is not just a subtle offence; it is a serious issue that must be addressed.”

     

    “At this point, We demand that Nigerian authorities, such as the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ministry of Information and Culture, Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Economy, Nigerian Communication Commission.(NCC), Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission and the National Assembly work together to carry out a cost-based research of the pay-tv market to be able to set floor and cap for subscription rates in the country.

     

    “Secondly, in respect of pay-per-view, ATCIS urge the authorities again to stop depending on only what they are told by operators as regards the technical possibility of the pay-per-view model. This is nothing but laziness on the part of the Nigerian authorities. We still remember vividly how such indolence in telecoms sector cost Nigerians billions of naira two decades ago because the authorities simply believed what they were told that per-second billing system was not possible.

     

    “Let the authorities do their thorough research regarding pay-per-view model and how it is being used in other countries and why Nigeria cannot be an exception. If they can do this, they would not need to be ladled by the operators whose primary intention, if not only interest, in Nigeria is to make money even at the expense of subscribers’ welfare.

     

    “To President Muhammadu Buhari , we believe now is the right time for this administration to fire leaders of those agencies that are not ready to work with him to promote the rights of subscribers through the agencies. So much is expected from National Broadcasting Commission, Nigerian Communication Commission, Orientation Agency, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC and others. The failure of the agencies will be blamed on the Buhari’s administration. The President must rise up and do something.

     

    “We can see that, through ATCIS the Nigerians have awakened to defend their rights and interests because they have waited for too long for the authorities to do the right thing but with no hope in sight.

     

     

    “Late Chief Awolowo said that, Nigerians will rise to fight for themselves because nobody will fight for them. Oppressor are Network Providers, Pay Tv investors like DSTV, GOTV, STARTIMES, the bad one’s among Govt agency, Lawmakers, Policy makers, who do not give freedom willingly for example ATCIS have demanded since March 10, 2020, today make it one year ago we demanded all this items listed from Govt agency in Nigeria (NCC, NBC & FCCPC ) they’re the major problem to 208 Million Subscribers from NCC & NBC to MNOs that;

     

    (1) As stakeholders; ATCIS must always be carried along.

     

    (2) Any products by Mobile Network Operators / Service Provider’s for Subscribers interest must seek ATCIS endorsement.

     

    (3) Improved quality of Telecom Services.

     

    (4) Reduction in the tariff’s of Data & Voice.

     

    (5) Drop call should be uncharged for.

     

    (6) Borrowing of funds at 15% interest rate is a high rate, ATCIS call for 5% charge’s

     

    (7) Affordable & Reliable internet service should be provided for Subscribers

     

    (8) Free data & call’s on every Nigeria independent day October 1st, just one day to all my members with over 200 million Subscribers yet to be implemented, NCC should take note,

     

    (9) Oppressor are those from NBC who are against Pay Per View or Pay As You Go (PPV or PAYG).

     

    “Until we Telecom Subscribers, Concerned Lawmakers, Policy makers, Govt. agency in Nigeria stand up together and demand for our rights as a King not a slave. Know your Rights as a Subscribers, Be Respected & Be protected. ATCIS is watching, ATCIS number is our Strength.

     

    Bilesanmi said the ATCIS Success Story achievements so far would be unveiled to all Subscribers at a Press Conference which will come up by next Month April 2021.