Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Senator and representative of the Supreme Court of Nigeria Olabiyi Durojaiye as chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The President also introduced Sunday Dare as Executive Commissioner of the regulator, and nominated several non-executive regional commissioners, including Aliyu Sa'idu Abubakar (North East), Clement Omeiza Baiye (North Central), Okoi Ofem Obono Obla (South South), Ezekiel Yissa (North Central) and Ifeanyi Ararume (South East).
Meanwhile the NCC has kicked against multiple taxation in the nation's telecoms sector. According to NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, multiple taxation from states and local governments across the country are threatening the operations of telecoms companies.
Speaking to the governor of Ogun state Ibikunle Amosun, Danbatta said an agreement signed between the Nigerian Governors' Forum and the country's former Minister of Communications Omobola Johnson, concerning the issue of multiple taxation and other related matters, is not being adhered to.
He noted that several government agencies regularly threaten to shut down Base Transceiver Stations belonging to telecoms companies because they refuse to comply with their tax regimes – developments seen as excessive and, sometimes, inappropriate.
"There have been recurring cases of multiple taxation which threaten the operators and by extension telecommunications services," Danbatta said.
He also expressed concern over the issuance of Right of Way approvals to telecoms companies by governments and bemoaned 'enormous challenges' faced by the telecoms sector. "Unless these challenges are tackled with pragmatic approach, subscribers in the country might continue to witness erratic services because of these and other government-linked challenges," he said.
In response, Governor Amosun said he will plead with other governors to find a permanent solution to the challenges, including the need to harmonise taxes payable by telecoms companies.
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