The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, has lavished praise on the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, for his exceptional regulatory leadership.
During a recent meeting at the NCC’s office in Lagos, Adebayo expressed his admiration for Danbatta’s remarkable administrative skills, effectively debunking the notion that engineers are incapable of being good administrators.
Adebayo hailed Danbatta as an excellent administrator and credited him for his instrumental role in the growth and development of the telecom industry.
The ALTON Chairman also commended the NCC for its unwavering commitment to quality regulation, emphasizing that the success of the telecom industry in Nigeria is a direct result of the favorable regulatory environment it enjoys.
The meeting focused on the implementation of the Expanded Revenue Assurance Solution (ERAS) within the telecommunications industry. Danbatta, addressing the audience, provided insightful details about the ERAS project.
He highlighted the collaboration between the NCC and the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), stating that the project operates under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, following the DFDDOT model recommended by the ICRC.
Danbatta acknowledged the NCC’s efforts in turning the long-conceived ERAS project, initiated in 2007, into a tangible reality.
He underscored the project’s alignment with the Federal Government’s directive to enhance revenue collection and prevent leakages within ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
By deploying the Revenue Assurance Solution, Danbatta explained that the NCC aims to optimize the revenue payable by licensed telecommunications service providers, ultimately bolstering government revenue generation.
Originally designed to target telecom operators, the ERAS project underwent a substantial expansion after receiving presidential approval in June 2022.
The NCC was directed to broaden the project’s scope to encompass the activities of Digital Economy stakeholders, leading to its renaming as the Expanded Revenue Assurance Solution (ERAS).
The implementation of the ERAS project serves as a testament to the NCC’s commitment to fostering transparency, accountability, and financial efficiency within the Nigerian telecom and digital services sectors.
Through the utilization of accurate data and information, the ERAS aims to eliminate wrong computations, faulty data, and information leakages.
Recognizing the critical role played by the telecom industry in driving economic growth and enabling digital transformation, the commendation from the ALTON Chairman and the ongoing efforts of the NCC under Danbatta’s leadership highlight the commitment to creating an enabling regulatory environment that fosters innovation and sustainable development.
As the implementation of the Expanded Revenue Assurance Solution progresses, stakeholders within the telecom and digital services sectors eagerly anticipate its positive impact on revenue generation and the overall growth of the Nigerian economy.
