By Milcah Tanimu
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has recommended that the Nigerian government streamline the regulatory roles of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to address overlapping regulations in the digital sector.
In its report titled “Collaborative Regulation: Accelerating Nigeria’s Digital Transformation,” launched recently in Abuja, the ITU highlighted the need for clarity in the functions of these agencies, particularly in areas such as ICT policy development, data protection, and content regulation.
The report underscores the importance of clear delineation of roles between NITDA and NCC, especially given the increasing convergence between telecommunications, IT, and ICTs. It noted that the overlap in mandates could lead to regulatory inefficiencies and confusion in the sector.
The ITU pointed out that the NITDA Amendment Bill currently before the National Assembly should clarify NITDA’s mandate, emphasizing the need to define whether NITDA is a standards body, a regulatory authority, or a policy-making institution. It warned that without such clarification, there could be conflicts between NITDA and other sector regulators, including NCC, leading to duplicated roles, licences, and fees.
The report also highlighted concerns raised by stakeholders in the Nigerian ICT industry regarding the NITDA Amendment Bill. Organizations such as the Computer Professionals Council of Nigeria (CPN), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), and Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) have criticized the bill, fearing it could make NITDA a ‘super regulator’ in the industry.
Ayoola Oke, CEO of ICT Derivatives Ltd., noted that the NITDA Act of 2007 was primarily aimed at facilitating ICT adoption across the nation, supporting infrastructure and connectivity. He argued that the new bill seeks to transform NITDA into a regulatory body, which could create overlaps with existing agencies already performing regulatory functions in the ICT sector.
The ITU’s recommendations call for a clear and streamlined regulatory framework to foster Nigeria’s digital transformation and ensure effective governance in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
