A 294
2003 No. 19
Communications
numbers and electronic addresses, and also promote and safeguard national
interests, safety and security in the use of the said scarce national resources.
Application
and scope.
2. This Act applies to the provision and use of all communications services
and networks, in whole or in part within Nigeria or on a ship or aircraft registered
in Nigeria.
CHAPTER II—ESTABLISHMENT, FUNCTIONS AND MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION
PART 1—ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION
Establishment of the
Commission.
3.—(1) There is established a Commission to be known as the Nigerian
Communications Commission with responsibility for the regulation of the
communications sector in Nigeria.
(2) The Commission shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession
and a common seal, capable of suing and being sued in its corporate name, and
shall have the power to do the following—
(a) enter into contracts and incur obligations ;
(b) acquire, hold, mortgage, purchase and deal howsoever with property,
whether movable or immovable, real or personal ; and
(c) do all such things as are necessary for or incidental to the carrying out
of its functions and duties under this Act.
(3) The Commission shall be structured into departments as the Board may
from time to time deem appropriate for the effective discharge of its functions.
Functions of
the Commission.
4.—(1) The Commission shall have the following functions—
(a) the facilitation of investments in and entry into the Nigerian market for
provision and supply of communications services, equipment and facilities ;
(b) the protection and promotion of the interests of consumers against unfair
practices including but not limited to matters relating to tariffs and charges for
and the availability and quality of communications services, equipment and
facilities ;
(c) ensuring that licensees implement and operate at all times the most
efficient and accurate billing system ;
(d) the promotion of fair competition in the communications industry and
protection of communications services and facilities providers from misuse of
market power or anti-competitive and unfair practices by other service or
facilities providers or equipment suppliers ;
(e) granting and renewing communications licences whether or not the
licences themselves provide for renewal in accordance with the provisions of
this Act and monitoring and enforcing compliance with licence terms and
conditions by licensees ;
(f) proposing and effecting amendments to licence conditions in accordance
with the objectives and provisions of this Act ;
(g) fixing and collecting fees for grant of communications licences and
other regulatory services provided by the Commission ;