The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 announced that it would sanction the Value Added Service (VAS) provider responsible for the All Progressives Congress (APC) mobile fund raising portal over a breach of regulations and unprofessional conduct.
NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo made the revelation at a media parley in Abuja, showing evidence of a letter dated Monday, January 19, 2015 and addressed to all political parties, stating that the NCC must be notified seven days before any such advertisement could be sent as text messages to members of the public.
He said the NCC was responding to complaints from well meaning Nigerians over text messages from operators urging them to vote for one party or the other. Speaking on the closing down the APC porttal last week, Ojobo said:
“In this particular instance, we have the guidelines on the use of short code and (Section 4.4) of the guideline says short codes once allocated must be used for the purpose to which it was intended.
“In this case the use of that short code was not for the purpose that it was intended and that was why the letter was written and therefore we have an enforcement processes for regulation that defines the fines for any infraction.
“As much as possible, we have always applied these rules consistently in such a way that there will be enough deterrent for future occurrence and in this case therefore, we will be guided by the enforcement processes and regulation and apply the fines accordingly.”
He also on the commission’s fairness and lack of motive in sanctioning the VAS, citing previous examples where the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) applied for a short code in 2010 and was granted authorization in 2011, same with Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, both of which adhered to the rules and regulations of the NCC. He said the same cannot be said of the current APC situation.
In his words: “On this matter, the commission neither got application from the VAS. We saw just like other Nigerians receiving SMS’ on their mobile devices. For NCC as a regulatory body, we thought that was a breach.
“The commission is not against raising of fund using short code. What we are saying is that the guidelines should be followed. These guidelines were not created for elections purpose anyway, the guidelines were provided for the integrity of network providers and to protect the interest of every Nigerian.”
