By  Emmanuel Elebeke

Controversy surrounding the delay in the approval of the 2010 budget of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, by the House of Representatives, on account of its provision for SIM Card registration, has attracted comments from foreign investors and Nigerians in the Diaspora who have expressed concerns about the consequences of this move.

A cross section of the investors who met with the President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu in New York, USA, last week to discuss the issue of independence of the telecom regulator, local content and other issues, including plans for registration of SIM cards in Nigeria, said the idea of withholding finance for any independent regulator affects its independence.

The group was further shocked when they learnt from Omo-Ettu, that the budget under discussion was the 2010 budget.
“We are also aware that the Commission has already submitted the 2011 budget proposal by September 30, 2010 in accordance with the rules”, the ATCON President told the group.

A member of the group, Mr. Chuma Emenike, Director, North Yield Investments, wondered how the nation intends to achieve healthy telecom investment friendliness with this delay of approving NCC’s budget. This hindrance in approving the Budget can be very detrimental to the telecom Industry and the economy as a whole.