Since the announcement of the retirement of the pioneer chairman and board members of MTN Nigeria and their replacement with yet another range of distinguished but powerful industry captains, sector experts’ reactions have been rising and mixed.
Whereas some see the decision to name former Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. Ernest Ndukwe as chairman designate and former Minister of Communications, Dr Mrs. Omobola Johnson and former FIRS boss, Mrs. Ifueko Okauru, both as Non Executive Directors as intelligent, others are divided based on the fact that the trio were formally regulators in the industry.
To pundits, there are fears of possible regulatory intimidation especially when technocrats who had been in regulatory positions are suddenly found in playing position within the confines of the same industry.
However, analysts that stood their ground in support of MTN Nigeria decision said bringing strong and well respected technocrats will help the company avoid some of the management errors that usually land it in breaches of regulatory provisions.
Fact checks in the nation’s telecoms sector showed that since the liberalization of the industry, MTN had remained the company with the highest number of involvement in regulatory breaches and associated penalties.
But with the incoming of regulatory chiefs on the board, observers are upbeat the duo may infuse strong guarantee that the incidence of breaches may become tamed going forward.
Aside the trio of former regulators, other designate members of the MTN Nigeria board includes
ex- chief executive officer of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Andrew Alli, Non-Executive Director; Mr. Michael Onochie Ajukwu – Independent Non-Executive Director; Mr. A.B. Mahmoud, SAN, Non-Executive Director.
The rest are: Mr. Rhidwaan Gasant, Independent Non-Executive Director; Mr. Ralph Mupita, Non-Executive Director; Mr. Paul Norman, Non-Executive Director; Mr. Jens Schulte-Bockum, Non-Executive Director; Mr. Rob Shuter, Non-Executive Director; and Mr. Karl Toriola, Non-Executive Director.
