FG has ordered banks to stop deduction of USSD charges.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has directed all banks nationwide to stop removing USSD charges from customers’ bank accounts.
Starting Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the charges will now be deducted from users’ mobile airtime instead of their bank balances.
This change was confirmed in a message sent by United Bank for Africa (UBA) to its customers.
The new billing method follows the NCC’s End-User Billing model, where each USSD session will now cost ₦6.98 per 120 seconds.
These charges will be handled by the user’s mobile network and not the bank.
Before any airtime is deducted, users will receive a prompt asking for their permission.
Airtime will only be charged if the user accepts and the bank is able to process the request.
Customers who do not want to continue using USSD services under this new method have the option to stop using the service entirely.
Banks have reminded users that they can still use mobile apps and internet banking platforms, which do not depend on USSD codes, for carrying out their transactions.
This development comes amid long-running disagreements between telecom operators and banks over unpaid USSD debts.
By the end of 2024, banks reportedly owed about ₦250 billion to telecom firms for services already provided.
This led to several warnings from both the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), urging banks and telecoms to settle the matter.
In January 2025, the NCC gave telecom companies the green light to cut off USSD services to some banks over unpaid fees.
MTN Nigeria later confirmed that it had received ₦32 billion from banks, part of the ₦72 billion it was owed.