Overview
IntroductionOn August 6, 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission launched its 2025 Guidelines on Corporate Governance for the communications industry (‘NCC Guidelines 2025'). The NCC Guidelines 2025, made pursuant to the powers conferred on the Nigerian Communications Commission (‘The Commission’ or ‘NCC’) by Section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, are a timely response to evolving corporate governance issues in the communications industry. The NCC Guidelines 2025 reinforce the framework for transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct within Nigeria’s communications sector. They mandate structural reforms within licensees, notably in areas such as board composition, risk management, audit integrity, and corporate value system, among others.
Generally, the NCC Guidelines are designed to promote good corporate governance practices across organisations in the communications industry, while ensuring the industry's sustainability. This piece will highlight the new provisions of the NCC Guidelines and their implications for organisations in the communications Industry. Scope of Application and EnforceabilityThe NCC Guidelines 2025 apply to all companies operating within Nigeria’s communications sector and are particularly mandatory for all individual licensees who are obliged to pay Annual Operating Levies (AOL) to the Commission pursuant to the AOL Regulations of 2022.
By virtue of the NCC Guidelines 2025, all licensees are required to apply the principles of the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018 as the minimum benchmark for corporate governance in the conduct of their operations and are subject to the Apply and Explain philosophy; this means that companies are not only required to comply with the code but must also demonstrate the steps taken to achieve compliance.
