By: Manoah Kikekon
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) confirmed the change in a statement signed by Chairman Gbenga Adebayo and Publicity Secretary Damian Udeh, following the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive.
Direct Customer Billing: Telcos will now deduct charges from users’ airtime at N6.98 per 120-second session. Opt-In Approval: Subscribers must approve charges before deduction only successful sessions will be billed. No Service Disruption: USSD banking remains functional; users only need sufficient airtime.
The move replaces the old corporate billing model, where banks owed telcos N250 billion in unpaid USSD fees, causing disputes and service disruptions.
"USSD services are crucial for financial inclusion, but the previous model led to unpaid debts and uncertainty. The new End-User Billing (EUB) model ensures fairness and sustainability."
Telco-related problems? Contact your mobile network. Bank transaction issues? Reach out to your bank. Alternative channels: Mobile apps, internet banking, and ATMs remain available.
December 2024: CBN & NCC ordered banks and telcos to settle N250 billion USSD debt. January 2025: NCC threatened to suspend USSD services over unpaid debts. February 2025: MTN recovered N32 billion out of N72 billion owed by banks.
ALTON assures a smooth transition, working with NCC, CBN, and banks to protect user interests.
(NAN)