The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the regulatory body for Telecom companies in Nigeria, has suspended the Do-Not-Disturb feature so that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) can disseminate specific information about voter education on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This is part of the measures put in place to ensure that the public comes out to vote in the upcoming elections in February.
According to the Director, Public Affairs, Mr Nnamdi Nwokike, “Upon due consideration of the upcoming general elections, NCC has decided to temporarily suspend its directive to Mobile Network Operators MNOs on Do-Not-Disturb DND.
“In implementing the suspension, MNOs are to be mindful of existing directives regarding the timing and regularity of such messages.” “The temporary suspension is only with regards to specific messages on voter education.”
He also said that NCC had issued instructions to all MNOs and Value Added Service Providers that they should ensure that their facilties were not used to disseminate political or religious contents.
The regulatory body mandated the implementation of the ‘Do-Not- Disturb’ code from 1st of July 2016. This was in reaction to complaints from customers that the MNOs were sending messages to their customers incessantly and billing them even for value added services they did not subscribe to. Hence all MNOs were mandated to switch on the 2442 code to allow any subscriber who does not want to receive unwanted messages from the subscribers bar such messages.
