THE Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), has made public a new set of corporate governance guidelines tailored for the telecommunications industry, marking a significant milestone in its regulatory evolution.
While launching the Corporate Governance guidelines in Lagos on Wednesday, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NCC, Aminu Maida, emphasized that the 2025 guidelines are not merely a compliance tool, but a strategic framework for long-term sustainability, investment security, and digital trust in Nigeria’s fast-growing telecom ecosystem.
He said :“This launch is not just about compliance. It’s about sustainability of networks of investments of innovation and of customer trust.”
The guidelines represent a culmination of more than a decade of regulatory evolution, beginning with the first voluntary code introduced in 2014. They incorporate feedback from wide-ranging public consultations in 2023 and 2024, and adapt global best practices to Nigeria’s unique business environment.
According to Maida, the new provisions will become mandatory for licensees in phases, beginning with priority license classes. Key highlights include:
Strengthened board structure with emphasis on sector-specific expertise.
Greater transparency through certified mid-year and annual compliance reports.
Stronger internal controls and enterprise risk management.
Mandated ESG and CSR disclosures with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.
“Our analysis last year showed that firms with strong governance outperformed others in financial returns, regulatory compliance, and service delivery,” Maida revealed, linking corporate governance to operational resilience and investor confidence.
He further charged telecom operators to see the guidelines as a “toolkit for sustainable value creation” rather than a regulatory burden, urging them to invest in director education, enhance risk management systems, and tie executive performance to governance-linked outcomes.
The Commission pledged continued support for operators, with Maida reaffirming its commitment to “engage, enable and enforce—in that order.”
The launch of the guidelines comes at a critical time when the sector faces increasing cybersecurity threats, rising consumer expectations, and the demand for faster broadband expansion. With over 200 million active subscriptions, the Nigerian telecom sector remains one of the country’s most strategic growth engines.
“This is a decisive step towards a resilient, ethical and innovative telecoms industry,” Maida concluded.