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Tag: NLRC

  • FG tightens grip against lottery, gaming platforms

    FG tightens grip against lottery, gaming platforms

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).

    The NCC said this was with provisions to deter unapproved lottery and gaming practices on telecommunications platforms through information and intelligence sharing.

    NCC’s Director Public Affairs, Dr Reuben Muoka, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta said that the MoU, which would impact the gaming industry, was in synchronisation with the Commission’s Strategic Vision Plan (SVP).

    Danbatta said it was in a bid to promote fair practices in the industry for the protection of telecommunication consumers in relation to lottery and gaming activities.

    He said the collaboration was in line with the provisions of Commission’s SVP, 2021-2025, which would provide for facilitation of strategic partnership and collaboration with other bodies to enhance service delivery.

    “The initial MoU expired in 2022, amendments and modifications have been made since no MoU is cast in stone, especially given the industry’s dynamic nature,” he said.

    The Director-General of NLRC, Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, expressed optimism that the MoU would yield favourable outcomes in curbing illegal online gambling.

    Gbajabiamila was also optimistic that NCC and NLRC would achieve their intentions in the interest of gaming stakeholders.

    He decried how unapproved lottery, gaming activities and practices undermine the integrity of domestic and global gaming markets to the detriment of the stakeholders.

    The D-G said this was in addition to undermining consumer confidence in the markets, hence the collaboration with the Commission to arrest such tendencies.

    Earlier in his opening remarks, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Mr Adeleke Adewolu said that the MoU was designed to address recent technology information-sharing capabilities, consumer satisfaction.

    Adewolu said that it was also to enhance areas of co-regulation in line with the digital economy mandate.

    He said: “The new MoU replaces the one that was first signed by both organizations, which expired in 2022.

    “It provides complementary approaches to deter unapproved lottery practices on telecommunications platforms through information and intelligence sharing.

    “This is in recognition of how unapproved lottery and gaming activities and practices undermine the integrity of domestic and global gaming markets to the detriment of stakeholders in addition to undermining consumer confidence in these markets.

    “Under the agreement, following requests from NLRC, NCC shall endeavour to block or disable illegal lottery gaming operators on the telecommunications service providers’ platform in Nigeria and NLRC

    “The document is developed by a Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) comprising representatives of NCC and NLRC to implement the MoU and other matters that promote collaboration between both organisations in their regulatory functions.”

  • NCC, NLRC inaugurate committee to strengthen consumer protection

    NCC, NLRC inaugurate committee to strengthen consumer protection

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) on Thursday in Abuja set up a committee to work towards the protection of the interest of telecom consumers against malpractices that may attend mobile lotteries in the country.

    The Committee, which was inaugurated at the NCC Head Office in Abuja, was tasked with the responsibility of articulating measures to address mutual regulatory issues, including the review of revenue-sharing formula between Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and lottery operators.

    The NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), Barrister Adeleke Adewolu, who presided at the meeting comprising senior staff of the two agencies, recalled fondly previous engagements between the agencies and stated that the committee was important in order to review and update an NCC-NLRC Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed on the 6th of August 2018 but has now expired.

    The ECSM said the Commission is committed to regulatory collaboration and strategic partnerships and has carefully reviewed NLRC’s requests and is convinced that both organisations can conclusively address issues and other concerns that have been identified in the operation of lotteries in the telecom industry.

    “We expect that the Joint Committee of senior members of staff in both organisations will work closely to develop a collaborative framework to progressively improve gaming service delivery for telecoms consumers and further accelerate holistic development in Nigeria’s digital economy,” Adewolu stated.

    In addition, the ECSM reiterated that the Committee is expected to articulate a new MoU to address issues around revenue sharing between MNOs and lottery operators, the need to review and recommend a workable model for addressing the needs of both organisations, and present informed recommendations to deepen regulatory collaboration between the two regulatory agencies.

    “Given the strong professional pedigree of the members of this Joint Committee, I have no doubt that they will meet and even exceed the expectations of the Managements of both the NCC and the NLRC, and I wish you all success in this task,” Adewolu added.

    Speaking on behalf of the Director-General, NLRC, Lanre Gbajabiamila, the Director, Legal Services, NLRC, Olayemi Ajayi, expressed her organisation’s commitment to improving revenue generation from the lottery industry while appreciating NCC for being receptive to inter-organisational collaborations.

    Ajayi reiterated the need for renewal of the expired MoU with amendments to accommodate new provisions that will be favourable to stakeholders and fast-track the development of Nigeria’s digital economy.

    Ajayi assured that, “The NLRC is working tirelessly to ameliorate its functions and service delivery to stakeholders. Therefore, this renewed collaboration with NCC will help for better and efficient service delivery by both agencies.”