By Ikenna Omeje
 
The Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, has charged the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC)/ CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta and the entire Management of the Commission to redouble their efforts towards actualising the digital economy agenda of the Federal Government.
Pantami made this call during a courtesy visit by the Executive Management of the NCC led by Prof. Danbatta who was recently reappointed as the EVC of the commission for another five- year term.
According to a statement issued by the NCC Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, the Minister noted that 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.”
He, 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.
The Minister reminded the Executive Vice Chairman 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.
“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.
In his remarks earlier, the EVC Prof. Danbatta expressed gratitude to the Minister for the role he played 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,” he said.
Thee EVC was accompanied on the visit by 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 include 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.