By Dele Ogbodo
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Waida Maina has reiterated the avowed determination of the Commission to transparently display fairness and neutrality in the enforcement of its regulatory and statutory mandate to Telecommunication Operators (Ops) and Value Added Service (VAS).
The tenet of neutrality and fairness to all players deploying efficient technology is a bedrock imbibed by NCC, which according to him gives room to operators and other stakeholders the opportunity to deploy preferred efficient technology without any encumbrances.
The NCC boss made the disclosure while hosting the delegation from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the Commission’s Headquarters acknowledged that the Commission is a technology-neutral regulatory entity.
The Commission’s mandate weigh more absolutely on regulating competition rather than dictating the specific technology solutions that licensees must employ to drive their operations and dynamics.
“The operators are at liberty to adopt any type of power technology they think that is good, and cost-effective to keep their operations at optimal performance in meeting the quality and standard of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set by the Commission.
“The primary responsibility of NCC is to ensure effective competition among licensees in a way that guarantees the delivery of qualitative service that produces high quality of experience and value for money for the consumers,” Maina, said.
According to him, the mantra of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA) is hinged on innovative ideas that contribute to reducing the operational costs for licensees and enhancing exciting Quality of Service delivery (QoS) for Nigerians.
Mr. Tunde Gbajumo, who led the USAID team in a remark, said the overaching purpose of the visit was to brainstorm on telecom electrification through renewable energy.
According to Gbajumo, this nexus in efficient service delivery falls within the jurisdiction of the Commission as the regulatory authority for the sector.
He said: “We have been been collaborating with Rural Electrification Agencies (REAs), investors, and user organizations to enhance the power sector in Nigeria.”
The team, he said is determined to addressing this demand through sustainable and innovative solutions as according to him, USAID NPSP is proposing to work more with the Commission on sustainability models of renewable energy to support the digital economy sector in the country.
