Comply With Laws, RSHA Tells Telecoms Firms

The Rivers State House of Assembly has said that it would ensure that companies operating in the state continue to comply with global acceptable standards in the industry.
The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Communication Technology, Hon Okpokiri Nwanaka Okpokiri, who also represents Ahoada West Constituency, gave this indication when he led members of his committee to MTN regional office in Port Harcourt.
Speaking with The Tide shortly after the meeting, Okpokiri said, though telecommunication falls within the exclusive list, it was also pertinent that since the companies operate in the state, the government should know their activities.
“MTN falls within the exclusive list, there are other agencies, like the NCC that handle telecommunication activities, but we are here because MTN is operating here in Rivers State, and there has been many complains and issues raised by indigenes, especially the issues of location of mast, unemployment, and other social responsibility issues. We need to know what they are doing”, the lawmaker explained.
He assured that the state government would partner companies operating in the state by creating an enabling environment for them to operate and do genuine business.
According to him, “Rivers State Government is willing to partner with any individual and corporate body willing to do business in the state; that is why you can see that we have an enabling environment for investment.
“The Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike is ready to partner and encourage anybody that is coming to do business, and what we have done here today is to see for ourselves what they are doing and to know them”, he said.
While noting that, as representatives, the lawmakers’ job was to ensure that companies comply with regulatory standards as they affect the people, assuring that the visit would extend to other telecommunications companies.
Also speaking, Regional Head of MTN, South-South and South-East, Mr Obinna Nweje, noted that the company has, over the years, complied with extant laws and standards while meeting its corporate social responsibilities, especially in the areas of youth empowerment, promotion of culture of the people as well as community development.
Nweje assured that the company would continue to do more to support efforts of governments at all levels to create employment opportunities for the youth and also consolidate on its human capacity and social development initiatives.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana