NITDA initiates forum to address ICT consumers’ complaints

*CPF will enable the agency to settle consumers’ grievances in a non-litigious manner

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

As the first of its kind in the industry to enable the foremost Information and Communications Technology (ICT) resolve such complaints in a non-litigious manner in Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has initiated a Consumer Protection Forum designed to address consumers’ complaints over poor indigenous IT products and service delivery.

Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, revealed this Tuesday, July 21 in a webinar monitored in Abuja, FCT, with focus on “Virtual Digital Services Consumer Protection Forum”, says agency report.

The agency also presented a draft framework on Alternative Dispute Resolution for the ICT sector of the country for review at the online meeting.

Malam Abdullahi, represented by Dr. Usman Gambo, Director, IT Infrastructure Solutions at NITDA, stated that the forum, being first of its kind in the country, would enable the agency to settle such consumers’ complaints in a non-litigious manner.

The forum is very critical to the success of NITDA’s strategy, which is aimed at building qualitative indigenous content for consumption in the ICT sector, said the Director-General.

He further said that the multiple complaints and quality of ICT products and services had led to the conceptualisation of the consumer forum as well as drafting the alternative dispute resolution in ICT framework.

Leaving such issues unattended will lead to lack of confidence in local ICT products and services, which in turn attract very low patronage and cause job loss, Abdullahi said.

He reiterated that NITDA was committed to protecting digital products and services for consumers, and encouraged citizens to patronise Made in Nigeria ICT products.

Mr. Olayinka Adejube, Director, Standards Guidelines and Frameworks at NITDA, in remarked that the event is for service consumers and digital service providers to interact on possible ways of improving services.

Adejube stated: “This event is to bring consumer and service providers to interact and see areas where there is need to work together to ensure that the essence of all the investment in digital economy is not wasted.”