The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Thursday convened a hybrid Stakeholder Engagement Forum to unveil and deliberate on the outcomes of its 2024 Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA).
Held both physically and virtually, the forum brought together industry players, legal experts, consumer advocates, and government representatives to engage with findings from the Commission’s comprehensive review of eight key subsidiary legislations. The RIA marks a milestone in the Commission’s drive to institutionalise inclusive, evidence-based rulemaking.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, in his keynote address, emphasised that the RIA was guided by three strategic pillars—consumer protection, market development, and alignment with national policy objectives.
“The Commission places the consumer at the heart of all its regulatory activities,” Dr. Maida stated. “This assessment examined how our existing subsidiary legislations affect consumer satisfaction and Quality of Experience (QoE), ensuring that no regulation undermines public interest.”
He further highlighted the importance of measuring the impact of these regulations on licensees and the broader telecommunications market. “We looked at the agility of our rules—how they influence market entry, foster fair competition, and encourage efficient resource utilisation,” he said.
On the third pillar, Dr. Maida noted that government policy and national digital ambitions played a critical role in shaping the RIA process. “Our review examined how these laws contribute to broader governmental goals and policy outcomes.”
The Executive Vice Chairman stressed that the forum was an opportunity to recalibrate the Commission’s strategic priorities while deepening engagement with stakeholders. “Let’s scrutinise, debate and listen with open minds. Our shared goal is a robust, transparent, and forward-looking regulatory framework that promotes investment, safeguards consumers, and enables sustainable growth,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, Head of NCC’s Legal and Regulatory Services Department, noted that the RIA focused on areas such as licensing, SIM registration, subscriber data management, spectrum trading, enforcement mechanisms, and infrastructure sharing.
“The RIA revealed opportunities to streamline regulatory processes, clarify compliance obligations, and eliminate outdated provisions that could obstruct innovation or investment,” she said. “Our findings are rooted not only in internal analysis but also in extensive stakeholder feedback. These practical insights shaped the recommendations we share today.”
Mrs. Whyte expressed pride in her department’s leadership on the project and reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to regulatory reform. “As we move into the implementation phase, the RIA outcomes will inform amendments to existing legislation and guide the future of telecom regulation in Nigeria.”
The session closed with an open forum where stakeholders were invited to share views on how to improve the legal framework governing Nigeria’s fast-evolving telecommunications landscape.
The RIA initiative underscores the NCC’s broader mission to foster a resilient and innovation-friendly environment—one that responds to industry shifts while maintaining regulatory clarity and consumer trust.
