BY VICTOR BUORO – The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida has challenged stakeholders on excellent quality service in the nation’s telecommunications sector, warning that there is no room for compromise.
He is therefore canvassing robust industry collaboration and commitment to transparency in the telecom ecosystem to ensure this laudable objective is achieved.
Speaking at an interactive session with Chief Executive Officers in the industry in Lagos, Maida urged them to appreciate their key role in consolidating the achievements already recorded in the sector that is an enabler of Nigeria’s digital economy.
He noted that the expectations of telecom consumers in the country are very high and the NCC, in partnership with all the operators and stakeholders cannot afford to disappoint them in quality service delivery because “People actually expect telecom services to work.”
A statement by the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka quoted the Commission’s Chief Executive as saying; “I don’t think they really appreciate what it takes to deliver these services. So, it has come to a stage where they just see telecom service as a utility like water and electricity. Like a social service, it needs to work. We need to really come together in the industry and deliver value to the customer”.
On compliance with industry regulations and standards, the NCC boss said; “When it comes to compliance, this is an area where we are going to be placing a lot more focus, and things are going to be a lot more urgent. I am not going to be asking for compliance after the fact. That is going to be a very key area of focus for me.
“So, we owe it to ourselves to benchmark ourselves against the best, not against other sectors. We have to just take ourselves as setting the benchmark for every person else. So, let people compare and say we have to be as good as telecom.”
Also addressing issues regarding broadband, Maida said the Commission has a very short time to do so much, adding; “A lot has been done with the Infrastructure Company (InfraCo) licensing. We just have to re-imagine, look at it again, and see whether that is the right approach and re-imagine how we approach it.”
According to him; “We now need to start getting into the States, and perhaps we might need to sit down and see how we can do that differently. Again, on the broadband issue, we need to increase the investment.”
Describing operating entities as a very crucial segment of the national telecom development, he said hearing directly from industry CEOs about the issues, challenges, and opportunities would greatly enhance operations and service delivery within the industry.
Maida further said; “We also have to be clear that this is not just a conversation about you representing your shareholders. This is a conversation about Nigeria. This is a conversation about moving Nigeria forward.
“So, your shareholders are one part of your stakeholders, but Nigerians are also another critical, in fact, your most important stakeholders. So, this conversation is going to be about you having your shareholders, but you also have Nigerians to whom you will have to deliver services”.
In expressing their delight at the consultative approach of the NCC’s EVC, the CEOs promised to work closely in support of the Commission’s mandate to move the sector forward.
Specifically, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Emoekpere, said the industry is reassured by the steps that Maida has taken in convening the interactive session.
He said; “We are really encouraged that your first action is to meet with us here at this interactive session. What you have done to invite us here to hear what we have to say is the right step.”
Similarly, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, lauded the interactive session for providing a platform for discussing the issues in the industry, adding that the approach adopted by the new NCC Chief Executive is very promising.
