NCC Enforces 5-Year Ban on Ex-Regulators Joining Telecom Firms

Nigeria’s telecoms regulator has rolled out fresh restrictions aimed at curbing conflicts of interest in the industry. Under the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) newly issued Corporate Governance Guidelines, top officials will face mandatory “cooling-off” periods before they can take roles with the companies they once oversaw.

The updated rules state that the NCC’s Chairman, Executive Vice-Chairman, and Board Commissioners — whether executive or non-executive — cannot join any licensed telecom operator until five years after leaving their regulatory posts. Department Directors will also be bound by a similar policy but with a shorter wait of three years before they can work for a telecom licensee.

In addition, the guidelines set strict internal governance standards for operators. They prohibit board chairmen or vice-chairmen from holding executive authority or doubling as a managing director or chief executive officer of the same company. Ex-board chairmen and non-executive directors must wait five years after stepping down before taking up executive roles in that firm or its affiliates.

Promoting Transparency in Nigeria’s Telecom Industry

The new framework also limits the number of related persons on a board, stating that no more than two members of the same family can serve simultaneously. According to the Commission, the aim is to uphold transparency, accountability, due process, and ethical conduct while creating space for innovation in Nigeria’s fast-growing communications market.

These measures apply to all communications companies holding individual licences and paying the Annual Operating Levy (AOL) as required under the AOL Regulations of 2022. The NCC said it retains the discretion to adapt the rules for different licence categories and may introduce phased compliance schedules, to be communicated in writing.

The guidelines reflect an ongoing push to strengthen corporate ethics in one of Africa’s most competitive telecom markets, where governance lapses could undermine both investor confidence and consumer trust.