*The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Association of Licensed聽Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria express concerns about regulatory overlaps in the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, 2025 currently before the National Assembly

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the Association of Licensed聽Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) have expressed concerns about observable regulatory overlaps in the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, 2025.

ALTON, representing licensed telecoms operators in the country also, expressed support for vision of the Bill, but raised certain concerns on regulatory overlap, AI regulation, and ministerial directives.

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绿帽献妻 reports the industry stakeholders specifically expressed reservations about identified regulatory overlaps of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), during the Joint National Assembly Committee hearing on the bill Monday, November 9, 2025, Abuja, FCT.

In his presentation at the forum, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, stated: 鈥淲e commend the sponsors of this Bill for their vision to modernise Nigeria鈥檚 digital ecosystem, promote e-governance, and provide a legal foundation for emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).

鈥淥ur position follows a thorough review of the Bill, and focuses on ensuring clarity, coherence, and regulatory harmony.”

Adebayo: How NITDA’s powers intersects with NCC’s statutory mandate

Highlighting certain points of intersection of regulatory mandates of the NCC and NITDA, Engr. Adebayo said: 鈥淲hile we acknowledge the transformative intent of the proposed law, we must highlight key areas of concern:

“Regulatory Overlap: The Bill vests broad powers in NITDA that intersect with the statutory mandate of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).”

The Chairman of ALTON averred: 鈥淭o avoid duplication, we recommend a clear delineation鈥擭ITDA to lead on digital policy, e-governance, and standard setting.

“NCC to retain regulatory oversight on telecommunications networks, infrastructure, and digital services.鈥�

ALTON Chief also explained the Association’s position, and said: 鈥淭he provisions on Artificial Intelligence (AI) should reflect international best practice by distinguishing between policy guidance (to be led by NITDA) and technical regulation (to remain under NCC).鈥�

Certification and liability frameworks must not impose additional compliance burdens on licensed telecoms operators already regulated by the NCC, Adebayo stated.

Besides, ALTON suggested that these provisions in the Bill should apply mainly to public-sector digital platforms and not private network operators in the ecosystem.

Supporting the objectives of the Bill, the Office of the Head of Service (OHCSF) though, the Office, however, noted some provisions of the Bill intersect with,聽and in certain instances “duplicate statutory mandates already assigned under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended), the Public Service Rules (PSR 2021), the Civil Service Handbook, and the Public Procurement Act (2007).鈥�

It also recommended amendments to preserve OHCSF鈥檚 constitutional roles, prevent regulatory duplication, and ensure alignment with established administrative frameworks.