The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof. Umar Danbatta has advocated the need for sustainable and improved telecommunications services for the elderly and People Living With Disabilities (PLWD) in the country.
Danbatta, made this strong case for the elderly and PLWD in his opening remarks at the 92nd edition of Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) with the theme ‘Consumer Protection for People Living with Disabilities and the Elderly’ held in Lagos
The telecom sector regulator said the PLWD and the elderly, whom he referred to as senior citizens, were an important segment of the population that needed shoulg be provided telecommunications services and sustainability irrespective of the locations of such persons.
The EVC said: “No one in the society should be disenfranchised when it comes to access to affordable telecommunications services and sustainability of those services.
“We have put in place measures to ensure that those services are available everywhere and for all persons irrespective of their locations.
“The other one is to ensure affordable cost of those services because the society is so dynamic and services must care first with our growing population, especially the PLWD and the elderly who have given a major part of their lives in serving the country”, Danbatta added.
According to him, there is a growing need to recognise people with disabilities and the senior citizens and ensure that the interest of this category of people in the society is represented at all levels of governance.
He commended the Department of Public Affairs of the commission for the theme of the programme in view of the potential to generate ideas that will make senior citizens and PLWDs enjoy telecommunications services.
In his opening remarks at the forum, the NCC’s Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mr. Alkasim Umar, who was represented the Deputy Director,Mr. Banji Ojo said that the event was organized to discuss issues that affected Nigerian consumers with a view to charting a way forward to direct the affairs of consumers, especially physically challenged Nigerians.
Also, in his keynote address, the commission’s Director, Spectrum and Industry Service, Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), Mr. Kamal Tamawa, highlighted the challenges that needed to be urgently addressed to achieve inclusiveness of the PLWD and the elderly.
He listed some of the barriers as including lack of awareness and availability of products and services, unaffordability of products and services for persons with disabilities and high cost of devices being produced by technology companies, among others.
