Beginning Tuesday, June 3, banks in Nigeria will not deduct USSD transaction fees from prospects’ accounts. As an alternative, the Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC) has directed that these fees be taken immediately from customers’ cellular airtime.
This replace was communicated to prospects by United {Bank} for Africa (UBA) in an e-mail on Tuesday.
“In keeping with the directive of the Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC), please be told that efficient June 3, 2025, fees for USSD banking providers will not be deducted out of your {bank account},” the {bank} said.
“Going ahead, these fees shall be deducted immediately out of your cellular airtime steadiness in accordance with the NCC’s Finish-Person Billing mannequin,” the e-mail continued.
UBA defined that prospects shall be billed ₦6.98 for each 120-second USSD session, and the fees shall be collected by their cellular community suppliers.
A immediate for consumer consent will seem at first of every session, and deductions will solely occur if the shopper confirms and the {bank} is offered to course of the request.
READ ALSO: NCC Orders Telcos to Disconnect USSD Providers of 9 Banks Over Money owed
“If you don’t want to proceed utilizing USSD banking underneath this new mannequin, chances are you’ll select to discontinue use of the USSD channel,” UBA suggested.
The {bank} additionally reminded customers that different digital banking platforms stay accessible for his or her comfort.
The NCC’s directive seems to be a step towards resolving the long-standing battle between banks and telecom corporations over unpaid USSD service charges.
In December 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the NCC instructed each events to settle the ₦250 billion USSD debt.
Following threats from telecom operators to halt USSD providers, the NCC in January warned that it will droop the service and title defaulting banks. It later ordered telcos to disconnect USSD entry for 9 banks over the unpaid debt.
By the top of February, MTN Nigeria confirmed receiving ₦32 billion out of the ₦72 billion owed to it by banks.
