Just after the reappointment of Prof. Umar Danbatta as the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), some major changes have taken effect at the senior management level of the commission.
Reports from ThisDay indicate that the changes align with the commitment of the reappointed EVC, Prof. Umar Danbatta to infuse new ideas into NCC’s regulatory activities.
The redeployment affected four of the senior members of the NCC that include:
- Director, Public Affairs Department, Dr. Henry Nkemadu
- Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde
- Director, Research and Development (R and D) Department, Mr. Ephraim Nwokonneya
- Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department, Mr. Efosa Idehen
The redeployment took effect immediately as Nkemadu moves to the Research and Development department, while Adinde is now the new face of NCC’s Director, Public Affairs Department.
In the same vein, Nwokonneya assumes the position of the Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Management while Idehen steps to the position of Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau.
The senior staff redeployment was signed by the EVC on the same day, the SMP got unveiled. Sources have revealed that the effected changes is part of the Commission’s ongoing restructuring to ensure that the departments concerned are well suited for achieving NCC’s mandate.
According to the source, “The new redeployment is also Danbatta’s bid to see that there is new thinking and new ideas as well as energy, especially in the compliance and enforcement of regulations, which speaks to national security, especially the issue of improperly-registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards among others, protection of consumers rights and interests, as well as to ensure effective management of the Commission’s reputation,”
“With regards to Efosa’s redeployment, he has been the main man enforcing things here and there and credited with the wonderful enforcement of the many regulations on the licensees including the high profile, unprecedented fine of MTN and so on.”, the source reported
“So, I think the EVC redeployed him from Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement and moved him to Consumers Affairs so that he can also strengthen the protection of consumers’ rights and interests.
You see that consumers are still complaining about data depletion, billing matters and other issues.
EVC believes that from his robust knowledge in his previous department, Mr. Efosa will be challenged to demonstrate his skills in his new department to strengthen consumer protection, information, education,” said the source
The source also explained that Nwokenneya who was the Director, Research and Development (R and D) until his redeployment to Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement have worked in there for many years, thus expectations from the EVC is that he injects new ideas into the department, especially in the areas of compliance with the rules on SIM registration.
Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde according to sources was reappointed based on his track records in the last five years. “Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde is a consummate scholar many staff within the Commission and outside stakeholders believe has the charisma, cognate skills and finesse to run and sustain the effective management of the public image of the Commission. He is articulate and possesses public and media relations for effective stakeholder management.”
“So, Danbatta identified the need for changes for the actualisation of NCC’s mandate for the next five years and from all indications, the redeployed directors will now be challenged because they know the stakes are high, as they work out strategies to infuse fresh ideas and finesse in the way to run activities of their various departments,” the source concluded.
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