Consumer Protection and Transparency Confirmed by NCC in Mobile Data Sector

Dr Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has reaffirmed the organization's commitment to transparency, accountability, and innovation in regulating the country's telecommunications sector.

In a series of significant developments, the NCC is addressing various industry concerns. Dr Maida outlined these developments, which include tariff adjustments and simplification, the inauguration of corporate governance guidelines, the resolution of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) debt issues, and the transition to end-user billing. The commission is also introducing the Major Incident Reporting Portal and the National Identity Number (NIN) to SIM linkage audit.

The NCC is taking strides to ensure a stronger, more transparent, consumer-centric telecom ecosystem. To this end, a joint NCC-CBN task force has developed a new operational framework to standardise electronic recharge processes for failed network top-ups. The commission is also commissioning Tier-1 audit firms to assess operators' billing systems for Perceived Data Depletion, with findings showing no systemic manipulation of consumer data.

The NCC is also emphasising the importance of corporate governance as a powerful lever for industry transformation. Dr Maida stated that the commission is setting the foundation for a Nigerian telecom company that is wholly owned, well-run, and globally competitive.

Addressing the issue of high tariffs and expensive data, the NCC is adopting information disclosure strategies rooted in behavioural economics to nudge service providers toward improved performance. A public map for network performance will be launched in September, offering transparent access to real-time quality metrics like download speed and latency. The network performance reports will be based on crowd-sourced user data and will expand accountability beyond mobile network operators to include co-location service providers (TACOs) responsible for infrastructure reliability.

The NCC sees itself as a collaborative, forward-looking regulatory body. Dr Maida stated that the traditional model based on rigid rules and enforcement is no longer sufficient in today's digital landscape, and that the commission is now complementing regulation with transparency and data-driven competition.

The media plays a crucial role in transmitting and conveying the NCC's transformative policies to the people of Nigeria. Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, described the media as critical stakeholders in public engagement and invited them to collaborate with the NCC. Freda Bruce-Bennett, Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, offered practical tips to help Nigerians manage their data usage more effectively.

The NCC is determined to protect the interest of telecom services and mobile data users nationwide. Dr Maida stated that the commission is not trying to punish anyone, but instead wants the industry to grow so consumers are happier, operators perform better, and the government benefits from a broader tax base.

In conclusion, the Nigerian Communications Commission is taking active steps to transform the telecommunications sector, focusing on transparency, accountability, and innovation. The commission invites the media and the public to collaborate in this endeavour, working towards a more efficient, consumer-centric, and competitive telecom ecosystem in Nigeria.