As Nigeria’s top telecom regulator, Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has vowed that transparency will be the cornerstone of his leadership because it will provide a strong basis for creating an institution that is resilient, accountable, and effective.
During a recent courtesy visit in Abuja, Maida gave a briefing to Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Hon. Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, about his activities, vision, and plan since taking office in October 2023.
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“Openness is essential. We are able to self-regulate even as regulators because of transparency.
“And by doing so, we would be pushing ourselves to the limit, which will ultimately propel the Commission to reach our objectives of operational excellence,” Maida said.
He complimented the minister on setting a transparent example for others to follow.
Transparency in all of your endeavours is a quality that, as an honourable minister, sir, you have demonstrated as a leader, and I have to say that it is one that has the ability to alter the industry and make it accountable to the public as well as the actors in it.
Through the Minister, the head of the NCC expressed his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for considering him deserving of the role of head of a vital economic sector.
The Minister was informed by the EVC that the visit was significant since it allowed him to discuss with the minister his goals and priorities for the Commission. Additionally, according to Maida, achieving these goals would help the Minister implement the five pillars of the Strategic Plan.
I’ve had this seat for about six weeks, and throughout that time I’ve been able to have a deeper understanding of the situation and pinpoint areas that require immediate attention.
“We are now doing a thorough analysis and critical assessment of industry-related problems. Maida informed the Minister that “quality of experience is one of the areas we are placing priority on.”
We made it clear during my meeting with business executives that quality of experience (QoE) would not be negotiable. The CEO of the NCC said, “The Commission will take compliance in this regard seriously and will set a standard of what is least acceptable.”
Maida informed the Minister that broadband connectivity, which he views as the primary facilitator of the digital economy and financial inclusion, is another subject of great importance to him. He pointed out that these fit the Ministry’s five-pillar objective.
The CEO of NCC also considered how important it is to fully utilise the possibilities of technology advancements like the 5G revolution to expand business prospects and improve connectivity.
He told the Minister that the Commission is now reviewing its internal procedures in an effort to increase the organization’s responsiveness and efficiency. This review includes the digitization of the majority of our operations.
“The Commission will prioritise strengthening its regulatory efforts under my direction. With this, we hope to see more investors enter Nigeria’s telecom market, which will lead to the development of vertical industries, a rise in foreign direct investment, revenue production, and job creation, according to Maida.
In order to achieve a strong all-around expansion of the telecoms industry, the EVC further stated, “In all these, the goal is for the Commission to achieve optimal operational excellence which underpins the success of all other priority areas that we have set.”
Maida also recalled his visit to the Digital Bridge Institute in Lagos, where he encountered a highly promising organisation that would help advance a knowledge-based economy in accordance with the minister’s “Knowledge Pillar” of the Strategic Plan.
As a result, the EVC stated, “We will be giving the Institute’s redesign, retooling, and reorientation top priority in order to maximise its value in accordance with our goals.”
In addition to extending a cordial welcome to the head of the NCC, Dr. Tijani also recognised the telecom regulator’s significance and role in realising the country’s digital ambition.
“The NCC is an excellent organisation, and I value the work that you undertake. The NCC is essential to the nation’s future. You already possess excellent qualities; now, we must capitalise on them to create more value for the nation, Tijani stated.
“I want to reassure you that I am the greatest companion you could have. The Minister gave the NCC CEO his word that they would collaborate to realise the objectives and vision they had set.
