NCC orders banks to deduct USSD charges from user’s airtime
In a decisive move, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed deposit money banks (DMBs) to stop deducting charges for unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) transactions directly from customers’ accounts. Instead, these charges will now be deducted from users’ mobile airtime.
In an email sent to customers, United Bank for Africa (UBA) announced, “In line with the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), please be informed that effective June 3, 2025, charges for USSD banking services will no longer be deducted from your bank account.”
Under the new billing model, customers will incur a charge of ₦6.98 for every 120 seconds of USSD usage, billed directly by their mobile network operator. The statement further clarified, “You will receive a consent prompt at the start of each session, and airtime will only be deducted upon your confirmation and availability of the bank to fulfil this service.”
For those who prefer not to continue with USSD banking under this new structure, UBA advised, “If you do not wish to continue using USSD banking under this new model, you may choose to discontinue use of the USSD channel.”
Customers are encouraged to explore alternative digital banking options and internet banking services for their convenience.
This new directive is seen as a potential resolution to the ongoing conflict over USSD payments, which has historically pitted mobile network operators (MNOs) against banks. In a previous announcement from December 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and NCC instructed MNOs and DMBs to settle a substantial USSD debt that had accumulated, further intensifying the need for clarity and resolution in the payment process.
Source: TheCable
