By Martin Ekpeke
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has held a crucial Stakeholder Engagement Forum to present the findings of its 2024 Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on eight subsidiary legislations.
The forum, hailed as an innovative step in the Commission’s rulemaking process, emphasized participatory regulatory engagement with all stakeholders, focusing on three strategic areas: consumers, licensees and government objectives.
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the NCC, welcomed distinguished guests and industry stakeholders, underscoring the significance of the RIA process in shaping Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape.
“The Commission places consumers at the centre of its regulation of the telecommunications industry,” Dr. Maida stated, highlighting the critical role of the RIA in reviewing the impact of these legislations on consumer satisfaction and Quality of Experience (QoE), ensuring their interests are paramount in the issuance and implementation of subsidiary legislations.
Also, according to him, the RIA aimed to evaluate the impact of this legislation on licensees and the broader market. “This evaluation is crucial for determining the adaptability and agility of these legislations in reducing barriers to market entry, entrenching fair competition, and facilitating the efficient utilization of scarce resources within the sector,” he said.
The final strategic focus area addressed by the RIA was the Government itself, identified as the overarching stakeholder and major driver of policies and national objectives. The assessment reviewed how these legislations impact the achievement of governmental objectives and policy expectations.
Meanwhile, Dr. Maida emphasized that the essence of the RIA is to provide the telecommunications ecosystem with opportunities to participate in evaluating regulations. Well-drafted regulations, he noted, safeguard public interest, stimulate innovation, and facilitate investment in the market. The RIA process provided a crucial platform for major stakeholders to offer feedback and recommend areas for review and improvement, ensuring the effective application and implementation of these subsidiary legislations.
The NCC remains committed to fostering a fair, transparent, and consumer-centric telecommunications landscape. Dr. Maida stressed that the discussions at the forum – on the RIA report, its outcomes, and recommendations – are critical for refining policies and ensuring the regulatory approach aligns with the dynamic nature of the industry, shaping regulatory practices for years to come.
“This engagement provides us 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,” he added, encouraging open and constructive engagement.
“Your insights will be invaluable in shaping the rule-making process and deepening the development, review and implementation of subsidiary legislations,” he requested further.