Implementation of the Expanded Revenue Assurance Solution (ERAS) project will greatly boost revenue generation and ensure the overall growth of the Nigerian economy.
Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, said this at a meeting with mobile network operators on the implementation of ERAS in the telecommunications industry.
Addressing the audience at the meeting held at the NCC’s office in Lagos, the NCC boss shared details about the implementation of the ERAS project.
Danbatta, in a release by the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, also emphasised the collaboration between the NCC and the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
Danbatta said the ERAS project is being carried out through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, following the DFDDOT model (Design, Finance, Develop, Deploy, Operate, and Transfer), as recommended by the ICRC.
The NCC boss acknowledged the efforts of the NCC in transforming the dream of the ERAS project, conceived in 2007, into a reality.
He also underscored the project’s alignment with the directive by Federal Government to enhance revenue collection and prevent leakages within ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
By deploying the ERAS, Danbatta said the NCC aimed to optimize the revenue payable by licensed telecommunications service providers, thereby boosting revenue generation for the government.
“The ERAS project, initially designed to focus on telecom operators who have not only become major industry players but have also expanded their services into the digital services ecosystem, has underwent a significant expansion.
“In June 2022, following a presidential approval, the NCC was directed to broaden the scope of the project to encompass the activities of digital economy stakeholders.
“Consequently, the project was renamed the Expanded Revenue Assurance Solution (ERAS).
“The implementation of the ERAS demonstrates NCC’s commitment to fostering transparency, accountability, and financial efficiency within the Nigerian telecom and digital services sectors.
“Through the utilisation of accurate data and information, the ERAS aims to eradicate wrong computations, faulty data, and information leakages,” it was stated in the statement.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr Adebayo, had hailed NCC boss for his knack for quality regulation.
The ALTON chairman, who spoke at the meeting on the implementation of ERAS, also praised Professor Danbatta for his exceptional leadership.
Adebayo commended the NCC’s commitment to quality regulation, attributing the success of the telecom industry in the country to the regulatory environment it enjoys.
He expressed his pride in Danbatta’s remarkable administrative skills, challenging the notion that engineers are not good administrators.
The ALTON chairman described the NCC EVC/CEO as an excellent administrator, highlighting his instrumental role in the growth and development of the industry.
Muoka added in the release that the ALTON chairman’s commendation and the ongoing efforts of the NCC highlighted the commitment to creating an enabling regulatory environment that can foster innovation and sustainable development.
“With the telecom industry playing a critical role in driving economic growth and enabling digital transformation, the ALTON chairman’s commendation and the ongoing efforts of the NCC under Danbatta’s leadership highlight the commitment to creating an enabling regulatory environment that fosters innovation and sustainable development.
“As the implementation of the ERAS progresses, stakeholders within the telecom and digital services sectors eagerly anticipate its positive impact on revenue generation and the overall growth of the Nigerian economy,” he added.
