ITU Wants NCC, NITDA’s Roles Streamlined

The global telecom body stated this in its report on Nigeria, titled: ‘Collaborative Regulation: Accelerating Nigeria’s Digital Transformation’, which was recently launched in Abuja.ITU noted that overlapping functions of the two agencies include responsibility for developing sector-specific ICT policies, data protection, and content regulation, among others.

It added that with increasing convergence between telecommunications, IT, and ICTs generally, there is a need for a clear understanding of where the delineation of the roles of NITDA and NCC lies.

While noting that there are also some overlaps between the mandate of NITDA with NCC, the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and potentially other entities, the ITU said the NITDA Amendment Bill, which is before the National Assembly should clarify the mandate and role.

“The NITDA mandate in policymaking and regulation, that is whether it is a standards body, a regulatory authority, or a policy-making institution, is unclear, and stakeholders currently differ on what the role should be,” it said.

“While the Bill seeks to clarify the position of NITDA, it may inadvertently cause conflict between NITDA and other sector regulators including NCC given the NITDA broad mandate about the ‘digital economy’, and the lack of clarity in the distinction between the IT sector and the ICT sector.

“Should NCC and NITDA roles not be streamlined or clarified, it opens the possibility for forum shopping, and the duplication of roles, licences and fees levied by public agencies, and payable by ICT sector companies,” ITU added.

Source: Guardian