NCC restates commitment to Judicial collaboration to tackle telecoms service challenges

*Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, who receives commendation for digital transformation in the country, says the regulatory Commission much appreciates, and is committed to cooperation with the country’s Judiciary

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

As part of continued efforts at protecting telecoms infrastructure in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration with judicial institutions in Nigeria.

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive of NCC, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by a high-powered delegation of the Kano State Judiciary to the chief telecoms regulator at the NCC Kano Zonal Office, in Kano, at the weekend.

Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs of NCC, in a statement issued Monday, July 26, 2021, in Abuja, FCT, noted Prof. Danbatta, while addressing the visiting judicial delegation, said as the Commission is doing everything within its regulatory mandate to enforce compliance among licensees and collaborate with stakeholders to protect telecoms infrastructure, some individuals yet indulge in willful damage of telecoms infrastructure, vandalism, telecoms facility theft and fibre cuts, among other crimes.

The NCC EVC stated that the criminal acts conspire to degrade the Quality of Service (QoS) in the country.

According to Danbatta, since the NCC has no prosecutorial power, there is a need to strengthen collaboration with the judicial arm of government at all levels.

He said: “NCC does not have prosecutorial power in criminal acts committed by the citizens and licensees, which are inimical to the progress of the sector.”

“We appreciate the ways and manners such criminal cases are being dispensed by the judiciary.

“This is a testimony to the kind cooperation NCC has been enjoying from the Judiciary.”

The Commission will never fold its arms while unscrupulous citizens wreak havoc on telecommunications infrastructure, since this act affects the quality of service innocent consumers enjoy in the country, said the NCC Chief.

Danbatta further said: “Therein lies the importance of the judiciary in the work that we have been assigned by the government to do.

“We very much appreciate this cooperation with the judiciary and we are committed to ensure that the cooperation grows stronger and stronger going forward.”

He also disclosed that recently-concluded NCC Judges Workshop held, in Abuja, was a very important initiative of the Commission to continuously collaborate with members of the judicial arm of government through updating them with the trends and regulatory dynamism of the sector with a view to improving their knowledge for effective dispensation of justice.

Earlier in his address, Abdullahi Ado Bayero, Chief Registrar of Kano State High Court of Justice, who led the delegation, applauded the efforts of Prof. Danbatta and NCC in fast-tracking digital transformation of governance and other sectors of the economy.

The Chief Registrar stated that Judiciary as a whole has recognised the necessity and inevitability of digital justice system as well as full integration of ICT-based court system in the administration of justice in Nigeria.

Bayero noted this position is well-entrenched in the National Judiciary Information Technology Policy (NJITP) 2021, and is consistent with the NCC’s objective and strategic intervention to advance ICT knowledge and training for various public institutions in Nigeria.

“It is in line with the above that the Kano State Judiciary is determined to explore all necessary avenues and opportunities to integrate ICT-based court systems as well as digitised justice delivery systems for efficient and effective administration of justice in the state and we request NCC’s intervention in this regard,” he said.

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