The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster greater regulatory collaboration aimed at strengthening consumer protection and promoting fair competition within Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
The MoU was signed on Tuesday at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja.
The signing ceremony was attended by top officials from both organisations, including the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, and Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida.
Both leaders expressed their commitment to ensuring that Nigerian consumers benefit from a more coordinated regulatory framework that enhances market efficiency, consumer welfare, and fair competition.
Bello emphasised the critical importance of inter-agency cooperation to address the complex challenges faced by consumers in the telecommunications industry. He explained that overlapping regulations between the FCCPC and NCC are essential for filling gaps in oversight, ensuring that no issues slip through the cracks.He said, “The principle behind overlapping regulations is simple: it serves as a mechanism to prevent issues from slipping through the cracks. This explains the interwoven relationship between the FCCPC and the Nigerian Communications Commission.
“It ensures that if one agency, due to certain limitations, fails to identify or address a consumer issue or regulatory violation, the other agency, potentially with a different perspective, will be able to step in effectively.”Bello further highlighted the significance of Section 105 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018, which mandates such collaborative efforts between sector regulators. He stated, “By this, we are also making life easier for the generality of consumers in dealing with two government agencies on the same issue at the same time.”
The MoU is expected to streamline operations within the telecommunications sector by minimising regulatory confusion and promoting a one-stop-shop approach for telecom operators and consumers alike.
“The signing of this MoU today symbolises the convergence of two diligent government agencies in compliance with legal requirements to eliminate regulatory gaps in the telecoms industry,” Bello added.
The NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman expressed his enthusiasm for the agreement, calling it as a long-awaited and vital move toward improving the welfare of Nigerian customers, particularly in the quickly evolving communications sector. He explained that the collaboration will increase openness, encourage competitiveness, and provide a level playing field for all stakeholders.
Maida observed, “This occasion has been a long time coming. It is the result of positive discussions and events that have enhanced both our institutions’ willingness to defend Nigerian consumers, particularly in the communications industry.” The NCC chairman also emphasized the importance of the telecoms sector as a pillar of Nigeria’s economic and social growth, emphasizing the necessity for effective regulation that ensures both consumer protection and fair competition. “In an era of rapid technological advancements, the significance of collaboration between regulatory bodies cannot be overstated,” he told me.
“The telecommunications sector, in particular, has emerged as a key driver of Nigeria’s economic and social progress. This necessitates ensuring a level playing field for all players while protecting consumers who rely on dependable and reasonably priced communications services,” he added. “This MoU demonstrates our common objective of creating a transparent, competitive, and consumer-focused telecommunications sector. By coordinating our efforts, the NCC and FCCPC hope to eliminate regulatory confusion and create clarity for all parties,” Maida stated. Bello advised other sector regulators to adopt similar mechanisms for cooperation in accordance with the FCCPA’s legal provisions, to guarantee that consumers in all sectors benefit from comprehensive regulatory oversight.
“We hope that today’s gathering will motivate other sector regulators to develop comparable collaborative frameworks with the FCCPC, as required by Section 105 of the FCCPA. “This will ensure that consumers in all sectors benefit from coordinated and comprehensive regulatory oversight,” Bello stated.
Maida expressed confidence that the MoU would help Nigeria’s telecoms sector become more inclusive, transparent, and sustainable. “I look forward to the great strides we will make together in ensuring fair competition and consumer satisfaction in the years to come,” Maida told reporters.