Tinubu appoints Idris Olorunnimbe as Chairman of NCC

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Idris Olorunnimbe as the new Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the regulatory body overseeing telecommunications in Nigeria.

This announcement coincided with the establishment of the boards for both the NCC and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), organizations that operate under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.

Olorunnimbe is a well-known figure in public service and entrepreneurship development. He previously served on the board of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), where he held the position of Chair of the Stakeholder and Governance Committee.

Throughout his tenure, he actively promoted youth employment initiatives and entrepreneurship programs that positively affected thousands of small businesses throughout Lagos.

In his capacity as the new Chairman of the NCC, Olorunnimbe will oversee policy formulation for an industry that contributes more than 13% to Nigeria’s GDP and plays a vital role in the nation’s digital transformation efforts.

He will collaborate closely with Dr. Aminu Maida, who serves as the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC. Dr. Maida was appointed by the President in October 2023 and subsequently confirmed by the Senate in November 2023.

NCC Board composition
Other members of the newly constituted NCC board include Abraham Oshidami as Executive Commissioner, Technical Services; Rimini Makama as Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management; Hajia Maryam Bayi, former Director of Human Capital & Administration; Col. Abdulwahab Lawal (Rtd); Senator Lekan Mustafa; Chris Okorie; Princess Oforitsenere Emiko; and the board secretary.

Interestingly, Olorunnimbe will also serve as Vice Chairman of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) Board, with Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, as Chairman.

The USPF was created to promote universal access to ICT services in rural, unserved, and underserved areas across Nigeria.

The new board appointments come at a time when the NCC is expected to deepen broadband penetration, strengthen telecoms infrastructure, and address quality of service issues amid Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy.

What you should know
The USPF was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to facilitate the achievement of national policy goals for universal access and universal service to information and communication technologies (ICTs) in rural, un-served and under-served areas in Nigeria.

The Fund is being managed to facilitate the widest possible access to affordable telecommunications services for greater social equity and inclusion for the people of Nigeria.