…..To Promote Telecom Growth, Market Sustainability
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled the report of the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on Subsidiary Legislations, 2024 handled by the Legal and Regulatory Services Department of the Commission with the aim to identify gaps in the existing subsidiary legislations and recommend improvements for efficiency and compliance.
At the presentation of the report at the stakeholder engagement hybrid forum held of Thursday, 26th June, 2025, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida said RIA report is an innovation to the Commission’s rulemaking process and another avenue for participatory regulatory engagement of all stakeholders.
He explained that the process of Regulatory Impact Assessment took into consideration the three strategic focus areas of the commission which include Consumers. “It goes without mention that the Commission places consumers at the centre of its regulation of the telecommunications industry.”
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He also added that RIA aims to evaluate the impact of Subsidiary Legislations on licensees and the market as well as the Government—the overarching stakeholder and major driver of policies and national objectives.
“The RIA reviewed the impact and opportunities of these legislations on driving governmental objectives and meeting policy expectations,” he stated.
Dr. Maida explained further that the essence of the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is to provide the telecommunications ecosystem with opportunities to participate in evaluating regulations which when drafted well, safeguard the public interest, stimulate innovations and facilitate investment in the Market.
“The RIA process provided major stakeholders with an opportunity to offer feedback, as well as recommend areas for review and improvement that will enhance legislations.
“These enhancements will ensure the effective application and implementation of these Subsidiary Legislations.”
The EVC added that the Commission remains committed to fostering a fair, transparent, and consumer-centric telecommunications landscape.
“Today’s discussions, on the report of the RIA, its outcomes and recommendations are critical to refining our policies and ensuring that our regulatory approach aligns with the dynamic nature of the industry as well as shape 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.
In her remarks, the Head, Legal and Regulatory Services, Mrs. Chizua Whyte stated that the presentation of the outcome marks a significant milestone in the collective efforts at the Nigerian Communications Commission to ensure that regulatory frameworks remain effective, relevant, and forward-looking.
“This RIA is first of its kind and an evolutionary change to the rule-making processes of the Commission.
“Therefore, this Forum is not just the results of months of rigorous work, analysis, and stakeholder input, but a reflection of our commitment to evidence-based regulation and continuous improvement.
“The RIA has served as a vital tool in assessing the efficiency and impact of key subsidiary legislations governing the Nigerian Communications Sector.
She continued: “As many of you are aware, 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.
“The RIA process enabled us to evaluate what is working well, what requires enhancement, and where changes are necessary.
“The assessment focused on critical areas such as licensing, SIM registration, subscriber management, spectrum trading, enforcement procedures, and infrastructure sharing.”
According to her, through the review, the Council 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 constructive contributions helped shape the recommendations that we present today,” she said.
The presentation of the report showed that RIA identified key areas for improvement in the Commission’s subsidiary legislations: a balanced regulatory approach will enhance competition, consumer protection and industry growth.
“Continued collaboration between regulators, operators and stakeholders is essential for effective implementation and the Commission remains committed to adapting its regulatory framework to support Nigeria’s evolving Communications Sector.
On the next step, Stakeholder Engagement is identified as important, that is continuing to involve telecom operators, consumer rights groups, and industry experts in regulatory reviews. Capacity Building, by training staff of the Commission on best practices in compliance and enforcement. Also advise the operators on same for their staff and by Monitoring and Evaluation that is establishing periodic reviews of the subsidiary legislations to ensure continued relevance.
BV.
