In a significant development, the Nigerian Senate’s Communications Committee has given its nod to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) budget proposal of N549.6 billion for the fiscal year 2024.

The approval came during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Communications, presided over by Senator Ikra Bilbis of Zamfara Central.

Following a motion moved by Senator Tahir Monguno of Borno North and subsequent endorsement by committee chairman Senator Ikra Aliyu, the committee members unanimously greenlit the NCC’s budget through voice votes.

The scrutiny of the NCC’s 2023 budget performance, presented by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Aminu Maida, formed a crucial part of the proceedings. According to the report, the NCC recorded an actual revenue of N448.1 billion against a projected budget of N559.080 billion for 2023, with recurrent expenditure totaling N67.072 billion and capital expenditure at N3.6 billion.

During the session, Maida fielded inquiries from lawmakers on various subjects, including security, revenue generation, data protection, and discrepancies found in the 2023 budget report of the NCC. He assured lawmakers of the NCC’s commitment to diversifying revenue sources and enhancing regulatory compliance among operators.

Highlighting the agency’s collaboration with national security agencies, Maida emphasized the NCC’s role in addressing security challenges by tracking criminals through its platforms.

Senator Steve Karimi commended the NCC for its transparent and thorough report, noting the absence of discrepancies in the information provided. Senator Ned Nwoko praised Maida’s credentials and urged him to further optimize the agency’s operations.

Lawmakers lauded the NCC for its prudent management of revenue and expenditure in 2023, expressing confidence in the agency’s ability to effectively utilize the approved budget for the benefit of the telecommunications sector and the nation at large.