NCC, NLRC inaugurate committee to strengthen consumer protection

*The Nigerian Communications Commission assures the stakeholders that its partnership with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission can conclusively address issues and concerns identified in the operation of lotteries in the telecoms industry in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) Thursday, September 29, 2022, in Abuja, FCT, set up a committee to work towards the protection of the interest of telecoms consumers against malpractices that may attend mobile lotteries in the country.

The telecoms sector regulatory Commission stated the Committee, inaugurated at the NCC Head Office, in Abuja, was tasked with the responsibility of articulating measures to address mutual regulatory issues.

Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, said such regulatory include the review of revenue-sharing formula between Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and lottery operators in Nigeria.

Muoka stated that Barrister Adeleke Adewolu, NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), who presided at the meeting comprising senior staff of the two agencies, recalled fondly previous engagements between the agencies.

Adewolu stated that the committee is important in order to review and update an NCC-NLRC Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed August 6, 2018, but has now expired.

The ECSM said the Commission is committed to regulatory collaborations and strategic partnerships, and has carefully reviewed NLRC’s requests.

According to Adewolu, the NCC is convinced that both organisations can conclusively address issues and other concerns that have been identified in the operation of lotteries in the telecoms industry.

He also stated: “We expect that the Joint Committee of senior members of staff in both organisations will work closely to develop a collaborative framework to progressively improve gaming service delivery for telecoms consumers and further accelerate holistic development in Nigeria’s digital economy.”

Besides, Adewolu reiterated that the joint Committee is expected to articulate a new MoU to address issues around revenue sharing between MNOs and lottery operators, the need to review and recommend a workable model for addressing the needs of both organisations, and present informed recommendations to deepen regulatory collaboration between the two regulatory agencies.

“Given the strong professional pedigree of the members of this Joint Committee, I have no doubt that they will meet and even exceed the expectations of the Managements of both the NCC and the NLRC, and I wish you all success in this task,” said the NCC ECSM.

Speaking on behalf of Lanre Gbajabiamila,  Director-General of NLRC, Olayemi Ajayi, Director of Legal Services at NLRC, expressed her organisation’s commitment to improving revenue generation from the lottery industry while appreciating NCC for being receptive to inter-organisational collaborations.

Ajayi also restated the need for renewal of the expired MoU with amendments to accommodate new provisions that would be favourable to stakeholders and fast-track the development of Nigeria’s digital economy.

Ajayi assured stakeholders that “the NLRC is working tirelessly to ameliorate its functions and service delivery to stakeholders.

“Therefore, this renewed collaboration with NCC will help for better and efficient service delivery by both agencies.”