Director General of the National Telecommunications Commission
(NATCOM), Daniel Bobson Kaitibi, six months into his leadership of the
Commission has extended thanks and appreciation to board, management and staff
for the tremendous support that they have provided the Deputy Director-General
and him exactly six months since their joint appointments by His Excellency
President Bio.
DG Kaitibi also took the opportunity to update the media and the
public on what they have achieved so far as a Commission.
He acknowledged that the achievements they have recorded during
this short and challenging period would certainly not have been made possible
without support.
“We truly recognize your support and appreciate you as a ‘Great
Team’. The reports I have read from the respective Departments show deep
commitment and enthusiasm, and they give me the confidence that we shall
succeed. This is the essence of our collective success – achievements that no
skeptic can take away from us as we found our feet,” he said.
He expressed awareness of the momentous times that NATCOM is
traversing, which, he said, demands that they regularly account to the Ministry
of Information and Communications, the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on
Information and Communications, and the Board of Commissioners about the work
entrusted to them by His Excellency.
Six months since they were both appointed to serve as NATCOM
Director-General and Deputy Director-General, Mr. Kaitibi said that on
assumption of office on 26th March 2020, the following were the
priority areas they initially focused on:
Partner with the Ministry and Board to ensure the containment of
COVID-19 nation-wide and at NATCOM; enactment of the Electronic Communications
Act which would eventually see the transformation of NATCOM into an Authority;
conduct a Cost Study to set tariffs for interconnection and other
telecommunications services; procure Cyber Security and Fraud prevention
Equipment; install Fixed Spectrum monitoring equipment and handheld tools; secure
funding for the completion of the NATCOM Building up at South Ridge.
He reported that in collaboration with the MIC, considerable
efforts have been made in respect of the first two and sixth priorities, adding
that on behalf of Management and Staff of the Commission, he wished to say many
thanks to the MIC and the Board for providing the Leadership required in
recording these feats.
With the Cost Study, he stated that he was delighted to announce
that the ITU is currently exploring options for supporting the establishment of
a cost methodology and models for interconnection and telecommunication services
for Sierra Leone and to work with NATCOM in securing the necessary funding for
this to happen. “This can only be great news for NATCOM!” He said.
Cyber Security and Fraud Management remain a core aspect of their
key priorities as a Commission and said he was confident to report that they
have made provision for the procurement of this equipment in the just-concluded
FY2021 Budget. Whilst it may not be enough, he said they would continue to
partner with their international partners to secure funding in this regard.
The DDG and himself have made a deliberate decision to ensure the
welfare of employees is treated with utmost priority and nothing changes this
on the basis that because of their support they have made this much success in
a record time of six months since their appointments, and that they must not
forget that.
He said they have engaged all the Directors in the different
Directorates and made it clear how important it is to work as a team and be
inclusive. This he said does not subtract from the fact that there may be
differences in opinion and that they should not be fearful of the obvious
consequence: that there are bound to be differences of emphasis and approach on
a variety of matters.
“What is crucial, however, is that we have forged an enduring
unity across the Commission, which brings us together as the overriding
commitment to a joint effort in the growth of the Commission and improves our
well-being,” he said.
In six months of our leadership, he stated that a few remarkable
achievements were also recorded, and at the end of the day, the yardstick that
they shall all be judged by is one and one only: and that is, are they, through
our endeavors at NATCOM, creating the basis to better the lives of our
consumers!
However, he stated that they do not claim to have all the answers
and are confident that this balanced approach, based on stakeholder engagements
and drawing on the positive experiences of other Regulators, NATCOM can help
resolve these issues in a manner that benefits the country as a whole. “We are
on course!” he said.
Additionally, he said he has engaged the Director responsible for
Corporate & Industry Affairs to make adequate plans to ensure they have a
robust consumer perception survey in the first quarter of next year on the
quality of service delivered by Mobile Network Operators, collect information
on the understanding of the functions of the Commission and its benefits to
end-users, create awareness of the Commission’s roles in the socio-economic
development of the country, strengthen the capacity and capability of regional
staff members for the enforcement of the regulatory mandate of the Commission,
among others.
As they await the final budget for FY2021, he said he knows there
are exciting times ahead and NATCOM provides a unique space to work in but
would also urge all to tread cautiously in ensuring they meet their financial
obligations as a responsible Commission.
“The DDG and I would continue to rely on our Directors to provide
the requisite leadership to employees and report to us accordingly.” He said.
He stressed that once again, the DDG and him would use the
opportunity of their half-year anniversary to extend thanks and appreciation to
their fantastic employees who have been supportive of the key priorities they
set out since their respective appointments.
“As HE President Bio correctly stated in his acceptance speech of
the COI’s White Paper Report,” he pointed out, “when one is appointed to serve,
‘one must do so with honesty, fairness, justice, diligence, and compassion’. It
is on this principle that we would continue to serve to ensure a commitment to
our shared values. This, we demand of all of you as we forge ahead.”
