Our Mandate Does Not Cover Monitoring of Social Media Contents, Says NCC

Emma Okonji

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said its mandate does not include regulating the contents of the social media networks that many stakeholders have complained about. 

The Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, gave the clarification in Abuja when he represented the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, during a recent visit of the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), to the NCC. 

The  Executive Secretary of NCSCN,  Blessing Akinsolotu, who led the delegation, sought the intervention of the NCC on what he described as the worrisome and misleading content of social media platforms. 

“We know that NCC, as the regulator of the telecoms industry, has greater role to play in helping to curb the spread of fake news and incendiary contents that Internet users put on social media platforms. Therefore, we want NCC to partner with us in this regard,”  Akinsolotu stated.

According to Akinlosotu, the situation demands immediate intervention of key stakeholders to ensure that the content of the social media and the Internet are credible and enhance national social cohesion.

In his response, Muoka informed the organisation that commission’s mandate does not extend to controlling the content of such media platforms. 

According to Muoka, the major role of the telecom regulator is to facilitate the deployment of telecom infrastructure that provides different types of telecommunications services, including improving broadband that enhances robust Internet experience, and ensuring fair competition as well as the protecting of telecom consumers. 

Muoka said the mandate includes making services available, accessible and affordable for Nigerians who may leverage such access to engage in digital social mediation for the benefit of the individual, businesses, and the nation’s socioeconomic growth. 

In the performance of its functions, Muoka said the commission promotes collaboration and partnerships with different stakeholders such as NCSCN, in creating awareness and promoting access to different categories of consumers in the country. According to him, the commission looks forward to furthering collaboration with NCSCN in its efforts to align with the aspirations of users of telecommunications services across the country.