by Eze Eluchie
What we had
hailed on this Page as a mark of seriousness on the path of the Nigerian
Presidency, under the ‘saint’ Muhammadu Buhari regime, in addressing disregard by
foreign corporations of domestic laws and norms in Nigeria is fast turning into
a national embarrassment, an expensive mockery on Nigeria’s sovereignty and one more reason why we are where we are and the rest of the world keeps on forging ahead.
Why will Nigeria’s
Minister of Communication trivialize and politicize the fine levied on MTN by the
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for breaching regulatory provisions regarding registration of telephone numbers, by stating that final decision on whether the
fine gets paid or not, lies at with the President, ‘saint’ Muhammadu Buhari?
Globally, such political interference in what is basically commercial decisions by regulatory commissions serve to diminish the stature of such regulatory commissions and portray the country concerned as a jurisdiction where the Head of Government is a 'strongman' and institutions and practices of State are at the whims of the political rulers.
Globally, such political interference in what is basically commercial decisions by regulatory commissions serve to diminish the stature of such regulatory commissions and portray the country concerned as a jurisdiction where the Head of Government is a 'strongman' and institutions and practices of State are at the whims of the political rulers.
Till date,
MTN, despite the expiry of the time fixed to pay the fine, a cowardly bungling
and 50% reduction of the fine by the NCC/’saint’ Buhari and the
telecommunication giants continued failure to pay any part whatsoever of the
fine imposed, MTN continues to do business in Nigeria as though nothing (and
really nothing except for noise from the NCC) transpired.
Wither the
once touted ‘giant of Africa’?
Earlier blogpost on the MTN Fine affair:
Picture: NCC
Headquarter complex, Abuja, Nigeria.
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