The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will today (Wednesday) name Aminu Maida as the new Executive Vice Chairman (EVC)
The appointment of Maida by President Bola Tinubu’s administration comes after the exit of the controversial EVC of the commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who is expected to leave office with immediate effect.
Maida is the Executive Director, Technology and Operations at Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS). He has over 15 years’ multi-functional and international experience in FinTech, Telecoms and Enterprise Technology.
Prior to his appointment at NIBSS, Maida was CTO at the Nigerian-based FinTech Arca Payments Network and Senior Manager at Cisco Systems UK.
He holds an MEng in Information Systems Engineering from Imperial College London and a PhD in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from the University of Bath UK.
Danbatta was appointed Executive Vice Chairman of NCC in 2015 and reappointed in July 2020 for a second term of five years in office.
Danbatta has baggage of corruption allegations around his neck, which may be connected with the non-renewal of his tenure.
Tinubu also appointed Nkechi Egerton-Idehen as the MD / CEO, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT)
Others are: DG / CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) — Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi; National Commissioner / CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) — Dr. Vincent Olatunji; Postmaster General / CEO, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) — Tola Odeyemi.
A statement issued by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity on Wednesday also said, “Furthermore, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s determination to maximally leverage on Nigeria’s proven technological and digital economic prowess to reposition the nation’s economy toward greater financial inclusion, the President has approved the appointment of a new Special Adviser to the President.
“Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy — Idris Alubankudi.
“By this directive of the President, the above-mentioned appointments take immediate effect.”
SaharaReporters in September reported how sources within the presidency accused the Globacom telecoms boss, Mike Adenuga of compromising the NCC boss, Prof Danbatta with bribes and promises of presidential intervention to secure his (Danbatta’s) two-year term.
Also, in May 2023, SaharaReporters exclusively reported how Isa Ali Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and Sabiu “Tunde” Yusuf, who was former President Muhammadu Buhari’s personal secretary, reportedly colluded to ensure the granting of licences for broadcast frequencies in the 600MHz spectrum band by the NCC in the twilight of the Buhari’s administration.
Danbatta had played an alleged key role in the deal.
SaharaReporters had learnt that the move was to grant such licences to companies linked to their cronies and associates in the Aso Rock Villa, as well as a close ally of Bola Tinubu, who was the president-elect at the time.
A source within the presidency had confirmed this to SaharaReporters, adding that Pantami and Tunde Yusuf had also been attempting to shift earnings from sales to private bank accounts, which was another attempt to siphon additional public assets before handing over to the incoming governments
This mischief also included a 50% discount on the licence.