The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida said the Commission remains committed to fostering a fair, transparent, and consumer-centric telecommunications landscape.
Dr. Maida stated this at the Stakeholder Engagement Forum for the presentation of the Report of the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) conducted on Eight (8) Subsidiary Legislations by the Commission in 2024.
According to him, the essence of the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is to provide the telecommunications ecosystem with opportunities to participate in evaluating regulations which when drafted well, safeguard the public interest, stimulate innovations and facilitate investment in the Market. He added that the engagement provides the NCC an opportunity to look at the recalibration of the Commission’s strategic focus areas and determine whether the expectations of our major stakeholders are being met.
“Its outcomes and recommendations are critical to refining our policies and ensuring that our regulatory approach aligns with the dynamic nature of the industry as well as shape regulatory practices for years to come.
“This evaluation is important in determining the adaptability and agility of these legislations in reducing barriers to market entrance, entrenching fair competition in the market and facilitating effective and efficient utilisation of scarce resources”, he said.
Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, Mrs Chizua Whyte in her welcoming remarks
stated that, over time, the NCC developed a range of regulations and guidelines to guide service delivery across the industry. However, with evolving technologies and policy priorities, it has become important for the NCC to take a critical look at existing regulatory instruments.
“The assessment focused on critical areas such as licensing, SIM registration, subscriber management, spectrum trading, enforcement procedures, and infrastructure sharing. Through this review, we have identified opportunities to streamline processes, clarify obligations and remove outdated provisions that may hinder innovation or investment”, she said.
The RIA process provided major stakeholders with an opportunity to offer feedback, as well as recommend areas for review and improvement that will enhance legislations. These enhancements will ensure the effective application and implementation of these Subsidiary Legislations.
