The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has acted in national interest on the issue of data price increase, the Senate Committee on Communications has said.
The Committee, which visited the NCC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday as part of it oversight functions, said Nigerians should see the commission as being on their side on the issue of data price increase.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan (Lagos West) who spoke on behalf of the committee members, said the NCC had taken some commendable steps to sanitize the telecom industry and the data price hike was one of them.
He noted the roles played by the leadership of the NCC under Professor Umar Danbatta, especially the commission’s handling of the MTN’s 1.04 trillion naira fine and the recent outcry over the planned increase on data tariff, saying the NCC did not disappoint Nigerians.
“Each time we invited the leadership of the agency to the National Assembly, they honoured our invitation and responded to our inquiries, particularly during the MTN issue, and of recent the data price floor. They have acted in national interests and Nigerians see NCC as being on their side” Olamikan, who is the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, said.
He urged the NCC to make details of its 2017 budget available on time to enable members go through and approve to avoid the delay occasioned by the 2016 budget.
He said the 8-point agenda unfolded by Professor Danbatta on assumption of office has turned around the telecom industry, urging him to build on the achievement in the years ahead.
However, while receiving members of the Committee, the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Danbatta, said unless the issues regarding the data price floor are resolved, it remains a whirlwind that would not do anybody any good.
Members of the Committee are Senator Gilbert Nnaji as Chairman, and Senator Adeola Olamilekan as Vice Chairman. Others are Senators Abu Ibrahim, Joshua Dariye, Eyinnaya Aberibe, Isa Misau and Abiodun Olujimi.