THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stiffened the corporate governance guidelines for telecommunications (telcos) operators to enhance transparency, internal controls, and risk management across the industry.

The  Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Aminu Maida, hinted at this during the inauguration of the 2025 Guidelines on Corporate Governance on Wednesday, August 6, in Lagos.

According to Maida, the new framework is designed to ensure long-term sustainability for telcos’ businesses, networks, as well as instill investor confidence.

Under the new rules, telecommunications licensees must implement balanced board structures, enhance transparency, and establish more stringent internal control systems.

Board members are expected to include executive, non-executive, and independent directors with demonstrated expertise in information and communication technology (ICT) and cybersecurity.

He stressed further that NCC now formally recognises regulatory officers within licensees’ operations as key contacts for compliance monitoring.

“Corporate governance is no longer a soft requirement. It is now strategically imperative, especially in a sector that is central to Nigeria’s digital future and exposed to cybersecurity threats, climate risks, energy shocks, and rising consumer expectations.

“A major highlight of the new framework is the emphasis on internal audits and risk control,” Maida said.

With the new guidelines, operators are expected to conduct structured risk assessments and empower internal audit functions to ensure oversight.

“The guidelines mandate submission of mid-year and annual compliance reports, which must be certified by the board of directors.

“Our goal is simple, to ensure that telcos’ boards and management are properly structured to provide reliable services, protect infrastructure, and respond to the dynamic challenges of the industry,” Maida maintained.

He noted that companies with robust governance frameworks consistently outperformed others in areas of service delivery, financial management, and regulatory compliance.

He pointed out that the stiffer measures may initially disrupt some operators, but that the long-term benefits would outweigh any temporary challenges.

“With over 200 million active subscriptions, the telecoms sector is now considered essential to Nigeria’s economy, supporting digital infrastructure across finance, education, healthcare, and government services,” the NCC boss said.

He further noted that the guidelines will be rolled out in phases, depending on the category of licence held, stressing that enforcement would be rigorous.

“Operators must view this not as a regulatory burden but as a blueprint for long-term value creation.

“Where there is non-compliance, the commission will not hesitate to apply sanctions after remediation windows close,” Maida said.

On his part, Fabian Ajogwu, a senior advocate, said the review guidelines would reflect current realities, including Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities.

The ICIR reports that Ajogwu led the committee that produced the first Code of Corporate Governance for the telecoms sector in 2014.

An earlier report by The ICIR noted that the NCC has been embarking on some regulatory enforcement after it approved 50 per cent tariff hike for the telcos with most Nigerians still complaining about poor services despite the upward tariff review.