Dr Peter Chukwuma Obutte

Theory and Practice of Telecommunications Regulationin Nigeria Through the Development Question Dr Peter Chukwuma Obutte

The author applies a socio-legal methodology toexamine the appropriateness of 'less' regulationprinciple of free-market in the regulation of Nigeriatelecommunications sector given the country'sdevelopment questions. The author further utilizesthe country's sector-specific legislative enactments, policy, economic challenges, and socio-culturalpeculiarities as underlying and reinforcing factorsfor the interrogations and evaluations undertaken inthe study. The study finds that market systemspossessed significantly unique features andcharacteristics which are as distinct as thesocieties in which such economic markets aresituated. The peculiarities inherent in the societiesform part of the innate elements of 'market forces'which, if uncontrolled, diminish the prospects ofeconomic development and projections made underrelevant policies and laws. The author argues forobjective and purposeful regulation of markets andarticulates a set of market-management benchmarks. The benchmarks outline a regulatory sequence thatfacilitates rapid realization of intendments of laws, policy and societal expectations. The researchquestions, analysis, findings and recommendationswould be especially useful to governmentsdepartments, policy advisers, regulators, scholars ofregulation, law and development.