Nigerian Reps move to eliminate unsolicited text messages

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•Moot N5m fine for violation

The House of Representatives has set in motion a process for eliminating unsolicited text messages from GSM providers.

They plan to prescribe a sanction of N5m fine against any service provider sending unsolicited SMS to subscribers.

Nigeria has 149,787,120 active Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) lines as at November 2015 according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and subscribers are said to lose over N547b yearly per unsolicited SMS at N50 deductible, every five days of subscription.

Other unsolicited SMS attract N100 per week.

The lawmakers believe that unsolicited text messages breach the privacy of phone users and contravene their fundamental rights as provided for in the constitution.

Sponsor of the bill, Ali Madaki (APC, Kano) said in Abuja the bill became imperative as the NCC Act currently allows the telecommunications service providers to do whatever pleases them.

The bill is also out to stop online telemarketing without prior consent or application of a subscriber.

The bill also empowers any aggrieved party to file a civil claim before a High Court and provide penalties thereof.

Opponents of the bill including Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) said unsolicited text messages do not need stand alone laws as the NCC Act contains enough provisions to address the issue.

However, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila opined that privacy of subscribers should be an issue which the NCC Act is silent on.

The bill was unanimously passed after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, who said opinion of experts and stakeholders would be required at public hearing stage to determine how Nigerians felt about unsolicited text messages.

Thenation