Senate Greenlights Maida: NCC’s New Executive Vice Chairman

Infostride News reported on Thursday that the Senate has officially endorsed the appointment of Dr. Aminu Maida as the substantive Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This confirmation came during the Senate’s plenary session, where it adopted a report from the Senate Committee on Communications, responsible for screening Maida on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications and former Minister of Communications, submitted the report to the Senate, urging them to consider President Bola Tinubu’s request for Maida’s confirmation as the nation’s Chief Telecom Regulator. Bilbis assured the Senate that Maida had successfully passed through all the necessary scrutiny by relevant security agencies in the security governance sector.

During the screening, Bilbis highlighted Maida’s qualifications, professional experience, competence, and regulatory capacity, emphasizing his potential to drive the accelerated development of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector. The Senate was urged to approve the nomination, and subsequently, Dr. Aminu Maida’s appointment was confirmed through a voice vote, securing a five-year term in office, subject to renewal by the President.

In his interactions with the Senate Committee, Dr. Maida addressed various questions pertaining to his industry insights, qualifications, experience, suitability, and competence to manage the nation’s telecom regulatory sector. Members of the committee lauded him as the right fit for the role, describing him as the “round peg in a round hole.”

Dr. Maida outlined his top priorities, emphasizing the need to enhance coverage and connectivity by bridging access gaps between rural and urban communities through increased broadband infrastructure. He expressed a commitment to improving the Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for consumers, ensuring they receive value for money. Additionally, he pledged to hold the Commission’s over 8,000 licensees across different segments of the sector accountable for adhering strictly to their Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in terms of service delivery.

Creating a conducive environment for investment in the sector was another key focus for Dr. Maida. He promised to collaborate with the dynamic team at the NCC to rethink how the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) could be better leveraged to bridge the existing digital divide in the country.

The new Chief Executive Officer also underscored his commitment to inter-agency collaboration, aiming to achieve the current blueprint for the digital economy sector. He highlighted the ongoing review of the NCA 2003, expressing optimism that it would lead to greater innovation for improving the performance of the sector. Dr. Maida sought the support of the National Assembly in these endeavors, emphasizing the importance of working together to achieve positive outcomes.

As Dr. Aminu Maida assumes his role at the helm of Nigeria’s telecom regulatory authority, the industry anticipates positive developments under his leadership, with a strong focus on infrastructure development, service quality, and fostering a conducive investment climate. Infostride News will continue to monitor and report on the unfolding developments in the nation’s telecommunications sector under the guidance of the newly appointed Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the NCC.