The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has presented the outcome of the 2024 Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on Subsidiary Legislations, marking a pivotal moment in its drive to strengthen transparency, compliance, and responsiveness in the telecommunications industry.
The event, held in Abuja, drew major stakeholders from across the telecom ecosystem—including licensees, government officials, consumer advocacy groups, and legal experts—who gathered to review and discuss the findings of the RIA, which evaluated eight key subsidiary legislations enacted between 2019 and 2022.
In his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, emphasized that the RIA reflects the Commission’s commitment to participatory regulation. “This is an innovation to our rule-making process,” Maida said. “The essence of the RIA is to give all stakeholders an opportunity to evaluate regulations that, when drafted well, safeguard public interest, stimulate innovation, and facilitate investment.”
According to Dr. Maida, the RIA was strategically anchored on three focus areas—consumers, the market, and government policy—ensuring that regulatory instruments are not only consumer-centric but also business-friendly and aligned with national development objectives.
Mrs. Chizua Whyte, Head of the NCC’s Legal and Regulatory Services Department, described the report as a “milestone in evidence-based regulation.” She noted that the RIA is the first of its kind and a reflection of the Commission’s commitment to continuous improvement. “Through this review, we identified opportunities to streamline processes, clarify obligations, and remove outdated provisions that may hinder innovation or investment,” she said.
Key Findings and Recommendations
The RIA examined eight major regulatory frameworks:
1. Annual Operating Levy Regulations (2022) – While collection rates improved by 22.9% post-review, compliance slightly dropped. The RIA recommends expanding the collection scope and establishing a compliance roadmap.
2. Licensing Regulations (2019) – Startups face rigid documentation requirements. The report suggests tiered licensing models and flexible rollout timelines.
3. Enforcement Processes Regulations (2019) – Though generally clear, the RIA noted capacity issues in investigation and prosecution. Judicial and regulatory capacity-building was strongly recommended.
4. SIM Registration Regulations (2022) – Concerns about the 48-hour registration rule for M2M and IoT SIMs prompted suggestions for non-physical registration methods.
5. Spectrum Trading Guidelines (2022) – The report pointed to post-approval compliance challenges and a need for streamlined approval timelines and clearer revenue-sharing terms.
6. SIM Replacement Guidelines (2022) – While clear and adequate, feedback pointed to the need for self-service options and less rigid NIN validation procedures.
7. National Roaming Guidelines (2021) – Stakeholders called for clearer trial approval processes and more network management flexibility.
8. Colocation & Infrastructure Sharing Guidelines (2021) – The RIA flagged outdated provisions and ongoing competition studies involving 84 licensees.
Next Steps
The NCC outlined a forward-looking agenda that includes regular legislative reviews, intensified capacity-building for enforcement agencies, and stronger stakeholder engagement. “A balanced regulatory approach will enhance competition, consumer protection and industry growth,” the report concludes.
As Nigeria’s telecom industry continues to evolve with emerging technologies and increasing digital penetration, the NCC’s regulatory recalibration aims to ensure that policies are not only current but also catalytic for sustainable development.
“This RIA is not the end,” said Mrs. Whyte. “It is the beginning of a new chapter in telecom regulation—one that is responsive, inclusive, and future-proof.”
