Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled the results of its first-ever Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on the 2024 Subsidiary Legislation in a major push for regulatory reform in Nigeria’s telecoms sector.
To ensure the effectiveness of RIA in the telecoms sector, NCC directed service providers to inform consumers about major outages on networks and unveil portal.
The event, held in Abuja, drew wide participation from industry stakeholders, policy experts, and legal practitioners.
Speaking at the launch, NCC Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, Chizua Whyte, described RIA as a landmark achievement in the Commission’s efforts to modernise its regulatory framework in line with technological change and evolving policy needs.
“This RIA is the first of its kind and represents an evolutionary change in the Commission’s rule-making process. It reflects our commitment to evidence-based regulation and continuous improvement,” she said.
Whyte further said the assessment, conducted over several months, offered a comprehensive review of key regulatory instruments.
The review, she added, covered licensing procedures, SIM registration, subscriber management, spectrum trading, enforcement mechanisms, and infrastructure sharing.
The goal, the NCC Head of Legal and Regulatory Services noted, was to identify which regulations remain effective, which require improvement, and which are obsolete.
Whyte emphasised that RIA was not just an internal exercise but the result of extensive consultations with industry stakeholders whose input shaped practical, forward-looking recommendations.
“Through this review, we have identified opportunities to streamline processes, clarify obligations, and eliminate outdated provisions that could hinder innovation or investment,” she added.
Whyte also commended the Legal and Regulatory Services Department for its central role in driving the initiative and advancing the NCC’s commitment to modern, effective regulation.
According to her, the RIA findings will guide a broad regulatory reform agenda designed to enhance fairness, transparency, consumer protection, and sustainable sector growth.
“Let us continue to work together to create a regulatory framework that not only protects consumers and ensures compliance, but also drives sustainable growth and national development,” she urged.
In his remarks, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Dr. Aminu Maida, said RIA was structured around three strategic pillars, including the consumer, the market, and the government.
The NCC EVC further described the three elements as the backbone of the Commission’s regulatory approach.
Maida emphasised that the ultimate goal of the NCC was s to improve end-user satisfaction and quality of experience.
“It goes without saying that the Commission places consumers at the centre of its regulatory priorities,” he said.
Maida explained that RIA assessed how the subsidiary legislation affects consumer protection and experience, as well as its impact on operators in terms of barriers to entry, fair competition, and efficient resource utilisation.
“This evaluation is crucial for determining how adaptable and agile our regulations are in promoting competition, lowering entry barriers, and ensuring effective use of scarce resources,” he added.
Maida also disclosed that the assessment examined the extent to which existing regulations support Federal Government policy objectives, especially those aimed at fostering digital inclusion, innovation, and national development.
He affirmed the renewed commitment of NCC to ensuring that stakeholders were actively involved in shaping the country’s telecoms regulatory landscape.
