The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) today partnered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an Anticorruption Sensitization Programme designed for public and private sector workers in the telecoms sector, the industry regulator has said.
[blockquote right=”pull-right” cite=”Ibrahim Lamorde, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC”]The EFCC boss commended the EVC of NCC and his management team for accepting to partner with the EFCC to fight the monster called corruption and said this partnership will go a long way to show that the NCC is a key player in the fight against corruption particularly in the Information and Communication sector in Nigeria and that the NCC has zero tolerance for corruption. [/blockquote]
Dr Eugene Juwah, the CEO and Executive Vice Chairman of NCC said that both agencies are vested with the primary roles in the building of a modern, enlightened, informed and civic-oriented society.
The NCC CEO, who made the remarks at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja said that while the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 mandates the telecom regulatory agency with promoting modern, universal, efficient, reliable, affordable and easily accessible communications services as well as encouraging local and foreign investments, among others.
On the other hand, while the EFCC is the designated Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in Nigeria, charged with the responsibility of co-ordinating the various institutions involved in financial intermediation primed to fight against money laundering, fraud and terrorism financing. The EFCC leads the enforcement of all laws dealing with economic and financial crimes in Nigeria, according to the government agency.
Juwah added that the guiding principles of fairness, firmness and forthrightness in all transactions are the essential tripod that drives the Commission’s core values of integrity, excellence, professionalism, responsiveness and innovation.
According to him, “these are the values that have helped transform the telecommunications industry from its humble beginnings in 2001 to where it is at the moment with over 130million connected lines and an investment of over $32billion from a paltry sum of $500million. Contribution to GDP within the period has shot up from 4.5% to 8.69% on a rebased GDP just as our internationally acclaimed transparent regulatory activities have continued to attract generous FDI to the industry and the country at large.”
Juwah added that this investment profile and the exponential growth no doubt will attract attention to the industry and challenge our moral, professional and ethical commitment to regulatory oversight.
The EVC in his closing statement thanked the EFCC and said the NCC is not only committed to continuing regulatory transparency but also very committed to protecting the fortunes of the industry and that is why the Commission found it necessary to release a Code of Corporate Governance to help protect this investment, and ensure the operators run their companies in a way that is transparent and conforming to all internationally accepted benchmarks.
Ibrahim Lamorde, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, thanked the Management of the NCC and expressed his pleasure at addressing staff at the unique occasion.
He noted that similar campaign have in the past been extended to the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Ministry of Transport, Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Units (ACTU) to mention but a few.
The EFCC boss commended the EVC of NCC and his management team for accepting to partner with the EFCC to fight the monster called corruption and said this partnership will go a long way to show that the NCC is a key player in the fight against corruption particularly in the Information and Communication sector in Nigeria and that the NCC has zero tolerance for corruption.
Lamorde urged the NCC CEO to accept his proposal for the establishment of an NCC Integrity Section to work with ACTU. When set up, the section will be the rallying point for promoting transparency and accountability in NCC, to achieve the mandate of greater service and glory to Nigeria.