delivery of its regulatory mandate, the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC) has created a Digital Economy Department, principally
responsible for implementing programmes and policies aimed at fully
supporting and promoting the national digital economy agenda of the
Federal Government.
The Governing Board of the Commission approved the creation of the new
department at its last meeting. The department is strategically and
structurally placed under the Office of the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO
of NCC.
The EVC of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the creation of the new
department is in line with the Commission’s strategy to create a
dedicated team, with the sole responsibility of giving a necessary push
to the promotion of digital economy vision of the Federal Government
being driven by the Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy,
Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
According to Prof. Danbatta, “placing the newly-created department under
the Office of the EVC also underscores the importance the Commission
places on the need to successfully drive the overall national digital
economy strategy of the government through ensuring its effective
monitoring and supervision.”
Danbatta explained that in addition to working with the eight pillars of
the National Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) document, the Broadband
Implementation Unit in the Commission, hitherto placed under the Special
Duties Department and all the staff of the Unit, are to move to the
newly-created Digital Economy Department.
Already, Engr. Babagana Digima, an Assistant Director in the Special
Duties Department has been moved and designated as the pioneer Head of
the new department.
The NDEPS, as a national policy document, was unveiled by President
Muhammadu Buhari in November 2019 to add the needed impetus to the
actualization of the Federal Government’s Economy Recovery and Growth
Plan (ERGP).
The digital economy policy document has eight pillars, which include:
Developmental Regulation, focusing on effective regulation of the ICT
and digital sector in a way that enables development; and secondly,
Digital Literacy and Skills, which speaks to the provision of policy
backing for massive training of Nigerians from all works of life in
order to enable them to obtain digital literacy and other digital
skills. This pillar will also facilitate the training of Nigerians.
The third pillar is Solid Infrastructure, which has to do with the
deployment of fixed and mobile infrastructure to deepen the broadband
penetration in the country; while Service Infrastructure is aimed at
supporting Government Digital Services and the provision of robust
digital platforms to drive the digital economy. The Soft Infrastructure
element focuses on strengthening public confidence in the use of digital
technologies and participation in the digital economy.
Digital Services Development and Promotion is the sixth pillar, which
addresses the development of a vibrant digital ecosystem that supports
Innovation-driven Enterprises (IDE) and Micro Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) in a way that engenders innovation. The seventh
pillar is Digital Society and Emerging Technologies, focusing on tying
the development of the digital economy to indices of well-being in the
lives of ordinary citizens; mentoring startups on emerging technologies
and deploying their solutions.
The eight pillar of NDEPS is Indigenous Content Development and
Adoption, which pivots on the provision of a policy framework that gives
preference to digitally-skilled Nigerians for government-funded projects
in line with the Executive Orders 003 and 005 of the administration of
President Muhammadu Buhari.
As the telecom regulator, the NCC is poised to play a significant role
in the overall implementation of the digital economy policy and
strategy, hence the need for the Commission to create the new department
which focuses on working with eight pillars on NDEPS as well as
overseeing the Implementation of National Broadband Plan (NBP)
2020-2025.
While restating the Commission’s commitment to driving the digital
economy policy of the government through effective regulation of the
telecoms industry, Danbatta affirmed that, apart from infusing new
dynamism into the existing digital economy function, the creation of the
new department amplifies the Commission’s ‘Regulatory Excellence’, which
is one of the five pillars of its Strategic Management Plan (SMP)
2020-2024.