The Executive Vice Chairman /Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has affirmed the commission’s commitment to strategic collaboration and partnership with other agencies of government.
Danbatta reiterated this recently when the Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, FCT Office, Yahaya Garuba paid a courtesy visit to the Commission.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, Ismail Adedigba, Danbatta assured PCC that the Management of the commission would look into its requests on Staff Training and Telecom equipment.
He however, advised that the requests be put into writing and the needs made specific for appropriate actions.
“We have listened to your requests on Staff Training and Telecom equipment, but you need to put your requests into writing for management to look into it, and be specific about the area of collaboration so as to be able to help you,” he said.
In the area of training, he said, NCC has the consumer outreach programme, Town Hall meetings and trade Fair where it englightens the Consumers of their rights, therefore, urged PCC to collaborate with the commission in that regard.
“On training, we advise that when we have such event that you collaborate with us. That way, you will be able to understand exactly what we do, how we carry the Consumers along, by telling them what they need to know and their rights,” he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner, PCC, FCT Office, Yahaya Garuba said, “we are here today on a familarization visit to explore areas of mutual cooperation that will aid us enhance service delivery in the pursuit of public good since both of us protect the interests of Nigerians and everyone resident in Nigeria.
“Specifically, we want to seek your assistance in providing the commission with telecommunications equipment to support our operations to be able to strengthen our capacity to deliver on our own mandate.
“Our budgetary constraints makes it impossible for us to fund most of our operations more especially as it relates to communication technology. We are in a changing world where new technologies emerge daily in the commission, we must take advantage of these technologies to serve Nigerians better. We look forward to your understanding and cooperation in this regard,” he said.
The PCC Commissioner said, he was aware of the earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCC and PCC Headquarters, “but we want to take this as an advantage to explore our own way too because at times, when some issues get to the headquarters, base on the monumental demand there, they don’t tickle down to our own office in FCT, and looking at our area of coverage, there is high demand from us and FCT population growth is daily.
“We need attention in the aspect of materials, equipment and staff training, so we are soliciting for your support. Our services are free, we don’t generate revenue that is why we have budgetary constraints” he said.
He commended NCC for its efforts in promoting the implementation of the National Telecommunications Policy; Regulating the telecom sector and protecting the rights of companies and consumers alike.
“The telecom sector without your regulatory function would not have been as healthy as it is today. And I want to urge you to continue to do more in sanitising the sector and ensuring healthy practices,” he said.
He said, the role of the commission and NCC are closely linked.
“Ours is to ensure that rights of registered telecommunications companies being regulated by NCC and that of individuals are protected by ensuring full compliance with the best administrative practices,” he said.
