The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is partnering the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for a more robust consumer protection in the telecom sector.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies was signed in Abuja on Tuesday.
Tunji Bello, the Executive Vice-Chairman of FCCPC, signed the MOU on behalf of his agency, while Aminu Maid, the Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive of NCC signed on behalf of the NCC.
Bello stated that the partnership was to protect telecom consumers and promote fair competition by eradicating exploitative practices in the sector.
“This synergy is critical to ensuring comprehensive oversight and consumer protection without regulatory conflicts or duplications.
“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.
“Given the importance of this legal requirement, today’s event should inspire other sector regulators to establish similar collaborative frameworks with the FCCPC, as mandated by Section 105 of the FCCPA.
“This will ensure that consumers across all sectors enjoy the benefits of coordinated and comprehensive regulatory oversight,” he said.
Maida on his part noted that the coming together was the outcome of healthy engagements to protect consumers, especially in the telecommunication sector.
Maida explained there was the urgent need to provide level playing field for stakeholders, stressing that the telecom sector had become a critical sector in the nation’s economic value chain.
He stressed that by “aligning our joint efforts, the NCC and FCCPC aim to avoid regulatory uncertainty and create clarity for the benefit of all stakeholders in the communications sector and in furtherance of our joint responsibility to ensure the realisation of the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business objectives”.
