…Praises His Predecessors Over SMP-Danbatta
By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief
Chief regulator at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta has explained that the recently launched Strategic Management Plan (SMP) for fiscal years 2020 – 2024, the 3rd tranche since the deregulation of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria in 2001, is aimed at cascading the dividends of the digital economy to Nigerians.
Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(EVC/CEO) at the NCC, stated this in his foreword to the SMP, which has been uploaded on the Commission’s website: www.ncc.gov.ng. In the foreword, Danbatta, exhibited a characteristic forthrightness and sincerity for which genuine academics of his caliber are renown. Contrary to insinuations in certain quarters the SMP is Danbatta’s creation, the EVC/CEO of the NCC vacated that line of thinking and premised the credit for the creation of the SMP to predecession.
According to him, the history of the Strategic Management Plan of the Commission dated back to 2002 when the first Strategic Plan was developed, contributing to the accelerated growth of the industry. “This new Strategic Management Plan 2020 – 2024 therefore aims to consolidate and build on the achievements of the past two decades and more importantly, supports the Federal Government of Nigeria’s policy thrust of diversifying the economy through deployment of digital technology.
The Federal Government of Nigeria current administration’s strategic goal to develop and reposition
the Nigerian economy away from the over-dependence on oil is anchored on the newly-designated
Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Commission, being an integral
part of this Ministry, have key roles to play to achieve this strategic goal.
“Thus, the Strategic Management Plan (2020 – 2024) is designed to bring the benefits of the digitized
economy to the citizens of Nigeria. The digital economy represents a wide range of economic
activities that use digitized information and knowledge as key factors of production. The digitization
of the economy creates benefits and efficiencies as digital technologies drive entrepreneurship,
innovation and fuel job opportunities and economic growth.”
The Commission’s Strategic Management Plan (2020 – 2024) comprises five pillars, namely:
1. Regulatory Excellence: The Commission aims to develop adaptive and sustainable regulation to
ensure efficient regulatory service to all stakeholders.
2. Universal Broadband Access: Broadband Access is critical to the achievement of the Digital
Economy Policy of the Government. The Commission aims at achieving pervasive and inclusive
broadband access by providing incentives for broadband deployment in Nigeria.
3. Promote Development of Digital Economy: The Commission will provide the necessary regulations
and initiatives for the achievement of the Digital Economy policy thrust of the Government.
4. Market Development: The Commission through its policies and directions will ensure a dynamic
market that drives innovation necessary for economic growth.
5. Strategic Partnering: The Commission aims at mutually sustainable collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
The Board, Management and Staff of the Commission are committed to the implementation of
the SMP 2020 – 2024 to deliver on its responsibilities and functions as enshrined in the Nigerian
Communications Act 2003.
