The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has come under fire after reports emerged that it quietly hired 17 new staff members—11 of whom are from northern Nigeria—without any public announcement or transparent recruitment process.
Sources within the commission told SaharaReporters that the recruitment took place behind closed doors, raising concerns about regional bias and questionable leadership practices. According to the insider, only two of the newly hired employees are from the South-East, and four are from the South-West.
“This happened despite the telecom industry facing declining revenue and deteriorating service quality,” the source revealed. “Rather than addressing these issues, NCC leadership is busy with secret hiring.”
The move has reportedly stirred discontent within the commission, especially on the heels of a controversial promotion exercise also mired in allegations of favoritism and irregularities. “Who’s really in charge at NCC? Is anyone even watching?” the source questioned in frustration.
The telecom sector is currently navigating a rough patch, with subscriber complaints increasing and investor confidence dropping. Earlier this year, financial results from MTN Nigeria showed a staggering ₦400 billion loss in 2024, a steep rise from the ₦137 billion loss in 2023—despite revenue growing from ₦2.47 trillion to ₦3.36 trillion in the same period.
The losses were mainly attributed to ballooning operational costs. MTN’s direct network costs more than doubled, surging from ₦655 billion in 2023 to over ₦1.23 trillion in 2024. Expenses related to the national numbering plan alone jumped from ₦503 billion to ₦969 billion.
Amid these struggles, telecom operators lobbied for a tariff increase, which the NCC approved earlier this year. While some companies sought a 100% hike, the commission allowed up to a 50% rise under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act.
This decision was met with public backlash. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) threatened protests over the increased cost of data, which has become a significant expense for many Nigerians. Reports indicate that citizens now spend nearly 10% of the newly approved ₦70,000 minimum wage on data alone.
Efforts to get an official comment from the NCC on the recruitment or broader issues facing the commission were unsuccessful as of press time.
