NCC Lifts Suspension On MTN, Calls For Total Compliance

NIGERIAN Communications Commission, NCC, on Wednesday explained that it lifted the suspension placed on MTN Nigeria over regulatory infractions in consideration of several letters from the operator pleading for clemency as well as its satisfaction that MTN has abated all the contraventions that led to the suspension.

 

However, the commission added that lifting of the ban on regulatory services had nothing to do with the N1.04 trillion fine it imposed on the operator, October 20, 2015, for failure to deactivate unregistered SIM cards on its network, adding that the violation predated this fine. 

In the letter from the Commission indicating the lifting of the suspension to MTN signed by Mr. Efosa Idehen, Head, Compliance, Monitoring/Enforcement and Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye, Head, Legal & Regulatory Services, it categorically stated that the lifting of the suspension was a result of several letters from MTN to the NCC requesting for the lifting.

“We have reviewed MTN’s plea and also took into consideration the fact that MTN has abated all the infractions that gave rise to the suspension of regulatory services by the Commission.

“In a meeting between the NCC and MTN management on October 5, 2015 it was resolved among others that: NCC should compile and communicate list of all outstanding infractions to MTN stating what they need to do regarding each of the infractions; MTN should resolve all the outstanding infractions within two weeks and revert to the Commission; The Commission will monitor and validate the claims by MTN; MTN must commit to settling all outstanding Annual Operating Levies (AOLs) debts from 2014 and MTN must pay all penalties resulting from these outstanding infractions. 

“Having reviewed MTN’s plea therefore and in consideration that the operator has abated all the infractions listed above, the NCC hereby lifts the suspension”, Idehen said.

 According to NCC, the violations included but not limited to tariffs and promotions by MTN in letters from NCC of May 4, 2015, May 9, 2015 and May 25, 2015 respectively to withdraw unapproved tariffs and promotions specifically MTN Trutalk, MTN Best II promotions among others.