Following the reappointment of Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta as the Executive Vice Chairman
(EVC)/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for another five-year term, the
Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has
charged the EVC and the entire Management of the Commission to redouble their efforts
towards actualising the digital economy agenda of the Federal Government.
The Minister spoke when the Executive Management of the Commission led by Prof. Danbatta
paid him a courtesy visit on Monday.
According to the Minister, the proactive decision to recommend Danbatta’s reappointment to the
President for approval was “to ensure stability in the telecommunications industry and
consolidate on the gains and successes already recorded in the industry in the last five years of
Danbatta’s leadership as the EVC of NCC.”
Pantami, however, emphasised the need for Danbatta-led NCC Management to work more
harmoniously with the Ministry and Agencies towards ensuring effective implementation of the
National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) as well as thorough implementation of
the new National Broadband Plan (NBP), 2020-2025.
“The success of the Commission is our collective responsibility. While we, as a Ministry, do our
best to formulate general industry policy and supervise the activities of the Commission, I will
urge the NCC family to be united, remove all lines of demarcation, ensure justice, fairness in all
decisions and above all, ensure harmonious relationships. This task lies on the table of the
EVC,” he pointed out.
Speaking further, Dr. Pantami reminded the EVC that the focus of President Muhammadu
Buhari is currently to boost digital economy, which, he said, has become even more important
following the experience of COVID-19 pandemic that has left many individuals and
organisations relying more on digital platforms for work and collaboration.
“So, we expect the NCC, as the telecoms Regulator, to take the issue of digital economy very
seriously and give it all the attention it deserves within Commission,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the EVC appreciated the Minister’s role in his reappointment and reiterated his
commitment to taking the Commission to greater heights.
“I consider my reappointment as the EVC of NCC for another five years, as an honour and a
show of the confidence the Hon. Minister and the President have in our efforts at NCC in the
last five years. We would like to assure the Hon. Minister of our commitment, as a Commission,
to work with the Ministry and other Agencies under the Ministry’s supervision towards advancing
the frontiers of digital economy in Nigeria,” the EVC said.
Those who accompanied the EVC during the visit include the Executive Commissioner,
Technical Services, Engr. Ubale Maska; the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders
Management, Barr. Adeleke Adewolu; Secretary, Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF),
Shu’aibu Ayuba; and Director, Legal and Regulatory Services, Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye.
Others are the Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Mr. Efosa Idehen; Director,
Public Affairs, Dr. Henry Nkemadu: Director Licensing and Authorisation, Mohammed Babajika
and Director, Human Capital and Administration, Barr. Usman Malah, among other
management staff.
SIGNED:
Dr. Henry Nkemadu
Director, Public Affairs
Nigerian Communications Commission
08 June 2020
