By Danjuma Katsina
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it will continue to ensure that its regulatory frameworks remain effective, relevant, and in line with international best practice.
The commission's Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, stated this during a presentation of the outcome of the Regulatory Impact Assessment on Subsidiary Legislation, 2024, held in Abuja.
She explained that the process enabled the commission to evaluate its regulatory systems to a certain its effectiveness in regulating the telecom industry in Nigeria.
"The process enabled us to evaluate our regulatory system to ascertain what is working well, what requires enhancement, and where changes are necessary.
"The assessment focused on critical areas such as licensing, SIM registration, subsciber management, spectrum trading, enforcement procedures, and infrastructure sharing.
"This RIA is first of its kind and an evolutionary change to the rule-making processes, it has served as a vital tool in assessing the efficiency and impact of key subsidiary legislations governing the Nigerian Communications
Sector.", Mrs White said.
She is explained that the evaluation became necessary considering the evolution of new technologies and models overtime and the need to update its regulatory frameworks and systems in line with new trends in the industry.
"The Commission has, over time, 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 to take a critical look at our existing regulatory instruments.
"Through this review, we have identified opportunities to streamline processes, clarify obligations and remove outdated provisions that may hinder innovation or investment.
"What distinguishes this RIA is the depth of collaboration it entails, we drew insights not only from internal analysis but also from the invaluable feedback of industry stakeholders, their practical perspectives and contributions helped in shaping the outcome", Sahel noted.
The NCC's Head of Legal and Regulatory Services pointed out that the successful completion of the RIA demonstrates the commission's unwavering dedication to building a regulatory environment that supports innovation, fairness, and transparency.
"The outcomes of this assessment will guide the Commission's regulatory review and reform agenda, they will form the basis for amending and updating relevant subsidiary legislation to better align with cutrent realities and future aspirations.
"We will continue to work with key stakeholders to create a regulatory framework that not only protects consumers and ensures compliance but also drives sustainable growth and national development", she said.