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NCC moves to protect telecoms subscribers’ interests

By on March 25, 2014

Subscribers in the country’s telecommunications sector may be in for a good time as plans are underway to review the existing laws to accommodate new challenges confronting the industry.

To achieve fair competition and consumer quality experience in the industry, it was learnt that the Nigerian Communications Commission had recommended the review of some of its rules to ensure a new robust set of rules for the industry.

The Head, Compliance Monitoring, NCC, Mr. Ephraim Nwokonneya, during a training session in Lagos on Friday, said the Nigerian telecommunications revolution in the last 12 years had brought with it increase in Foreign Direct Investments, significant growth in the number of operating companies, massive growth in subscriber population, and an intense competition resulting in innovative tariff plans and promotions.

He said the growth had also brought with it quality of service hitches including challenges in the regulatory competence of the commission, among others.

Nwokonneya said, “The current Nigerian telecoms market is at its late growth stage characterised by: quality of service challenges; sub-optimal enforcement of relevant laws, guidelines  and regulations; challenges regarding reliability and integrity of data/records from operators; emergence of multiple regulations, multiple taxations, Right of Way issues, and so on.

“The commission’s rule base consists of the primary legislation – the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, and the secondary legislations – regulations, directions, and guidelines, among others. These are subsidiary laws developed by the commission by virtue of the powers conferred on it by Section 70 of the NCA 2003

“To achieve fair competition and consumer quality experience in the industry, the commission is currently reviewing its rule base to ensure a robust set of rules for the industry.”

According to him, the NCC is currently engaging legislators in the Senate and House of Representatives on the issue.

In this light, the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Communication, Alhaji Abu Ibrahim, told our correspondent in Lagos at a forum organised by the NCC for legislators that it was timely to visit existing communication laws in the country and see how grey areas could be addressed.

He said lawmakers remained committed to listening to all stakeholders in the business – the NCC, operators and subscribers, and making laws that would carry everyone along given contemporary developments in the telecoms industry.

In his address at the forum, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah, said the NCC would continue to acquaint and keep the members of the National Assembly abreast of existing and emerging legal issues in telecommunications because the legislature had a fundamental role to play in the success or otherwise of the industry.

He said although the NCA was forward looking in providing a legal framework for the industry, some other laws such as those on cybercrime and data protection, which will positively support telecoms activities in the country, were still pending at the National Assembly.

“A law establishing ICT infrastructure as critical national infrastructure is also essential,” Juwah added.

 

[Punch]