PROF. Umar Garba Danbatta, executive vice-chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has expressed displeasure at the massive job cuts in the telecommunications sector but submitted that it was hamstrung by the Act setting up the commission to mediate in labour issues.

He said even though the commission desires to see the vibrancy in the industry translated to additional job creation in the economy, the NCC does not currently have the mandate to intervene in labour issues.

Danbatta, however, admitted that though there had been slight improvement in the quality of service by telecoms operators compared to now, the overall level of improvement still remained low and of great concern.

He said operators have continued to violate the mandatory one per cent drop call limit set for them by the commission.

Consequently, he disclosed that the commission would soon unleash tougher sanctions on specific operators that have shown little or no commitment to enhancing their service quality.

When he appeared before the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating the telecoms industry, Danbatta added that the commission would soon publish a ranking index for all telecoms operators indicating their service quality strength, with a view to stimulating competition among them.

Meanwhile, the investigation could not however, commence full steam yesterday as the NCC was yet to write to operators as requested by the committee to cooperate in its investigations.

Also, some crucial information and documents needed as background to the probe were yet to be supplied to the committee by the commission while the committee also resolved to write the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, regarding an item in its probe- the repatriation of funds. – Nigeria Communications Week

—  May 9, 2017 @ 17:35 GMT