NCC Enforces 5-Year Ban on Former Telecom Regulators Joining Operators to Boost Governance and Transparency
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled new corporate governance guidelines that impose strict post-service restrictions on its top officials. Under the new rules, the Chairman, Executive Vice-Chairman, and Board Commissioners—both executive and non-executive—are barred from accepting positions in any licensed telecom company until five years after leaving the Commission. Department Directors will also face a three-year cooling-off period before joining firms under NCC’s oversight.
These measures form part of the NCC’s wider Corporate Governance Guidelines for the Communications Industry, aimed at reinforcing ethical standards and reducing conflicts of interest. The rules further restrict telecom operators’ boards by prohibiting any Chairman or Vice-Chairman from exercising executive powers or serving as Managing Director/CEO. Former board chairmen or non-executive directors are also barred from taking executive roles in the same company or its affiliates until five years after their exit.
To strengthen governance within operators, the guidelines also limit family representation, stipulating that no more than two members of the same family can serve on a licensee’s board simultaneously. The policy applies to all communications companies holding individual licences and paying Annual Operating Levies (AOL), as defined by the AOL Regulations 2022. The NCC noted that compliance measures may be phased in, depending on licence categories, with official notifications issued in writing.
The new framework was formally launched in Lagos during an industry-wide event attended by telecom stakeholders. NCC Executive Vice-Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida said the initiative is designed to ensure business sustainability, bolster investor confidence, and improve service delivery. He stressed that corporate governance is now a “strategic imperative” for Nigeria’s telecom sector, which faces mounting challenges from cybersecurity risks, energy disruptions, climate change, and growing consumer demands.
According to Dr. Maida, NCC’s internal review revealed a direct link between strong governance structures and superior performance in service quality, financial stability, and regulatory compliance. While the Commission acknowledged that the new rules might initially disrupt certain operators, it maintained that long-term benefits—such as improved market trust and operational efficiency—would outweigh short-term inconveniences. The reforms are part of NCC’s broader effort to align Nigeria’s telecom industry with global best practices in transparency and accountability.
Source: Nairametrics