National Assembly Praises NCC’s Sector Growth, Calls for Transparency, Affordability, Infrastructure Protection in ₦472bn 2026 Budget
By Fatima Saka
The National Assembly on Thursday commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for a 5.17 per cent growth in the telecommunications sector in 2025 but urged the regulator to strengthen transparency, improve service quality, and ensure that financial sustainability does not price out low-income Nigerian
During a joint budget defence session of the Senate and House Committees on Communications, chaired by Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis and Hon. Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi, lawmakers closely examined the ₦472 billion 2026 budget proposal presented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Presenting the proposal, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the spending plan aligns with the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and reflects growing investment in infrastructure, regulatory reforms and digital expansion.
While acknowledging the sector’s expansion and ₦102 billion remitted to the Federal Government in 2025, legislators warned that financial sustainability must not undermine affordability, particularly for low-income Nigerians already grappling with rising living costs. They urged the Commission to ensure that tariff structures, spectrum charges and regulatory fees do not widen the digital divide as broadband penetration stands at about 50 per cent.
With 2026 framed around strengthening public trust, lawmakers demanded clarity on measures to verify subscriber complaints about data depletion and billing accuracy.
In response, the NCC said it had mandated telecom operators to subject their billing systems to independent audits by tier-one firms in a two-year cycle to enhance transparency and consumer confidence.
The Commission noted that while minor issues were identified, there was no evidence of systemic fraud, adding that rapid growth in data consumption, which it said has risen by over 100 per cent in recent years, has intensified pressure on networks.
Lawmakers also sought detailed explanations on the pipeline for the planned 19,000-kilometre fibre optic expansion and how it would lower consumer data costs.
The Commission said it is working to establish a wholesale access framework that will ensure fair and predictable pricing for backbone infrastructure, enabling smaller Internet Service Providers to operate beyond major cities like Lagos and Abuja and deepen connectivity nationwide.
On the role of Artificial Intelligence, the regulator said AI will play an increasing role in regulatory oversight, particularly in data monitoring, compliance enforcement and network optimisation, as digital services expand.
Given the designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, legislators demanded to know what portion of the 2026 plan is dedicated to physical protection of telecom assets.
The NCC said it is collaborating with security agencies and the Office of the National Security Adviser to tackle vandalism, diesel theft and fibre cuts, while calling for stronger community engagement to protect installations.
The committee also questioned the implementation of Project 774, a Federal Government initiative aimed at delivering connectivity across the 774 local government areas, with support from the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF). Concerns were raised over USPF’s reported 18 per cent budget performance in 2025 despite ₦12 billion remitted to it. The Commission described the project as ongoing, citing phased procurement and deployment timelines.
Lawmakers further pressed the regulator on when it last reviewed its regulatory charges and what percentage of its net revenue is retained internally, urging the Commission to enhance remittances amid fiscal pressures on government.
In response, the NCC said it has automated revenue processes, eliminated manual leakages and projected ₦207 billion in remittances for 2026, noting that 100 per cent of spectrum revenue is automatically remitted to the Federal Government.
Concerns were also raised over declining network quality, with legislators questioning the ₦4.6 billion allocation for quality-of-service monitoring in 2026 and asking how the Commission intends to ensure operators meet performance standards.
The NCC disclosed that operators have committed to deploying nearly 12,000 additional sites in 2026, building on 2,800 sites upgraded in 2025, to strengthen capacity and improve user experience.
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Lawmakers additionally sought assurances that telecom infrastructure would support real-time transmission requirements under the amended Electoral Act and enhance national security coordination, particularly in tracking criminal activities through communication systems.
However, the session ended with the legislators stressing that the review was not merely procedural but aimed at ensuring accountability, affordability and inclusive digital growth. They signalled that scrutiny would intensify to ensure the NCC translates its 2036 digital roadmap into measurable improvements in connectivity, service quality and public trust.
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