President Tinubu Appoints Idris Olorunnimbe as Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Idris Olorunnimbe as the new Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the country’s telecommunications regulator. The appointment was announced alongside the constitution of the boards of the NCC and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), both under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

Olorunnimbe, a notable figure in public service and entrepreneurship development, previously served on the board of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), where he chaired the Stakeholder and Governance Committee. During his tenure, he championed initiatives to boost youth employment and entrepreneurship, impacting thousands of small businesses across Lagos State.

With his new role at the NCC, Olorunnimbe will oversee policy direction for Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, an industry that contributes over 13% to the nation’s GDP and is central to the country’s digital transformation agenda. He will work closely with Dr. Aminu Maida, the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who was appointed by President Tinubu in October 2023 and confirmed by the Senate the following month.

NCC Board Composition
The newly constituted NCC board also includes Abraham Oshidami as Executive Commissioner, Technical Services; Rimini Makama as Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management; Hajia Maryam Bayi, former Director of Human Capital & Administration; Col. Abdulwahab Lawal (Rtd); Senator Lekan Mustafa; Chris Okorie; Princess Oforitsenere Emiko; and the board secretary.

Olorunnimbe will also serve as Vice Chairman of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) Board, chaired by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.

About the USPF
The USPF was established by the Federal Government to expand universal access to information and communication technologies (ICT) in rural, unserved, and underserved areas across Nigeria. Its core objectives include:

• Ensuring ICT access for all Nigerians, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.
• Providing affordable and reliable telecommunications services nationwide.
• Targeting vulnerable groups to ensure inclusion in ICT access.
• Driving economic development in underserved communities through ICT deployment.

The appointments come at a crucial time as the NCC works to deepen broadband penetration, enhance telecoms infrastructure, and address persistent quality of service challenges in Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital economy.