FCCPC, NCC collaborate to boost consumer protection

• Published On: 14 January 2025 at 17:30

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve regulatory collaboration.

This partnership aims to improve consumer protection and promote fair competition in Nigeria's telecommunications and consumer sectors.

The MoU was signed on Tuesday at the FCCPC's headquarters in Abuja.

The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from both organisations, including Mr Tunji Bello, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the FCCPC, and Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the NCC.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to providing Nigerian consumers with a more unified regulatory framework that promotes market efficiency, protects consumer welfare, and fosters fair competition.

Bello emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration in addressing the complex issues confronting consumers in the telecommunications sector.

He emphasised the importance of regulatory overlap between the FCCPC and the NCC in bridging oversight gaps and ensuring that no issues are overlooked.

He stated, "The principle behind overlapping regulations is simple: it acts as a mechanism to prevent problems from slipping through the cracks. This explains the close 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 also emphasised the importance of Section 105 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018, which mandates collaboration among sector regulators.

He emphasised that this provision is critical for promoting effective cooperation and ensuring comprehensive oversight across industries.

He went on: "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."

Meanwhile, Maida expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, calling it a long-awaited and critical step towards improving the welfare of Nigerian consumers, particularly in the rapidly changing communications sector.

He emphasised that the collaboration would increase transparency, encourage competition, and provide a level playing field for all stakeholders.

"This is an occasion that has been a long time coming. It is the result of positive interactions and events that have strengthened the resolve of both of our institutions to protect Nigerian consumers, particularly in the communications industry," Maida stated.

The NCC chairman also emphasised the importance of the telecommunications sector as a pillar of Nigeria's economic and social development, emphasising the need for effective regulation that protects consumers while promoting 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 development. This necessitates ensuring a level playing field for all stakeholders while protecting consumers who rely on dependable and reasonably priced communications services."

He added, "This MoU demonstrates our shared vision of fostering a transparent, competitive, and consumer-focused telecommunications industry. By coordinating our efforts, the NCC and FCCPC hope to avoid regulatory uncertainty and create clarity for all stakeholders."

Bello urged other sector regulators to establish similar cooperative frameworks in accordance with the FCCPA's legal provisions to ensure that consumers in all sectors receive strong and comprehensive regulatory oversight.