NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime - Business

NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime - Business - Nairaland

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NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Islie(op): 7:00pm On Jun 03, 2025

The Nigerian Communications Commission has directed Deposit Money Banks to start deducting charges for unstructured supplementary service data transactions directly from users’ mobile airtime.

According to an email from the United Bank for Africa to customers on Tuesday, the charges will no longer be deducted from customers’ accounts.

The UBA said the directive takes effect from Tuesday, June 3.

The statement reads, “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.

“Going forward, these charges will be deducted directly from your mobile airtime balance in accordance with the NCC’s End-User Billing model.

“Under this new billing structure, each USSD session will attract a charge of ₦6.98 per 120 seconds, which will be billed by your mobile network operator.

“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.

“If you do not wish to continue using USSD banking under this new model, you may choose to discontinue use of the USSD channel.”

UBA said customers can continue using other digital banking options and internet banking platform for convenience.

The latest directive may be another move by the commission to address the historical USSD payment conflict between Mobile Network Operators and commercial banks.

In December 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the NCC directed mobile network operators and DMBs to resolve the long-standing N250 billion USSD debt.

Following threats by telcos to withdraw services over the debt accumulated by banks, the NCC, in January, threatened to suspend the USSD service and publish a list of banks still owing telcos.

On January 15, the regulator directed telcos to disconnect the USSD codes assigned to nine banks by January 27 due to unpaid debts.

On February 28, MTN Nigeria said it received N32 billion — out of N72 billion — from banks as part of payment for the USSD debt.

https://punchng.com/ncc-asks-banks-to-deduct-ussd-transaction-fees-from-users-airtime/?amp

3 Likes 1 Share

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by olawaleatanda(m): 7:02pm On Jun 03, 2025

Islie:
https://punchng.com/ncc-asks-banks-to-deduct-ussd-transaction-fees-from-users-airtime/?amp

Nlfpmod

what about opay and palmpay

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by damilola4162(m): 7:11pm On Jun 03, 2025

1 Like

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by benuejosh: 7:11pm On Jun 03, 2025

This is better!

Thank you Mr. President.

We're seeing he dividends of your administration this is just one of it.

20 Likes 4 Shares

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by autoez: 7:11pm On Jun 03, 2025

Who still uses those outdated traditional banks when I receive top-notch services from my Opay, Kuda, Palmpay, and Moniepoint apps? cry

77 Likes 5 Shares

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Stomoney(m): 7:12pm On Jun 03, 2025*

It's nice if it's only applicable to successful transactions

15 Likes 1 Share

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Kharol1234: 7:12pm On Jun 03, 2025

if I no get Airtime and I dey owe mtn, how we go do am?

13 Likes 1 Share

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Michael5143: 7:12pm On Jun 03, 2025

Welcome development

1 Like

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by inoki247: 7:12pm On Jun 03, 2025

Lol I believe Wu still dey use USSD dey one village or still dey in olden days or only have access to small phone why use USSD when app is the most convenient...

1 Like

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by unitysheart(m): 7:13pm On Jun 03, 2025

Sensible.

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Control7: 7:13pm On Jun 03, 2025

That means if I don't have airtime, I can't use USSD to buy airtime from my account. This is not too good

26 Likes

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by DadojoReloaded(m): 7:13pm On Jun 03, 2025

The charges of commercial banks are just too high.
I have an account with Opay and they only charge NGN10 per transaction after the first 3 transfers in a day; then NGN50 for every 10,000.

But you see these commercial banks? They charge SMS alert fee, account maintenance fee, electronic money transfer levy, NIP transfer fee and any other thing they can think of.

My FCMB account charges close to 5k monthly for fees and levies (Even though I don't do up to 10 transactions). Meanwhile, Opay charges less than 2k monthly (Even though I do more than 100 transactions)

40 Likes 3 Shares

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by geoworldedu: 7:14pm On Jun 03, 2025

benuejosh:
This is better!

Thank you Mr. President.

We're seeing he dividends of your administration this is just one of it.

This 'achievement' is like changing your boxers.

31 Likes 3 Shares

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Skyfornia(m): 7:14pm On Jun 03, 2025

Have never used USSD code for any banking transactions...but I think this idea is not reasonable cause it means someone cannot carry out any mobile transactions without data or airtime.

9 Likes

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by njokuuche77(m): 7:15pm On Jun 03, 2025

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Offpoint1: 7:15pm On Jun 03, 2025

Better than deducting from my account and still deducting another N6 for sms of the USSD deduction.

Banks are just out there to milk one dried.

6 Likes 1 Share

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Successsearch90(m): 7:15pm On Jun 03, 2025

Kai
Stop that

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Pootle: 7:16pm On Jun 03, 2025

this administration want to milk out the common man, i dont blame them though nigerians are used to flaunting their little wealth

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by SEGLIZ: 7:16pm On Jun 03, 2025

reading

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by hailtheking100(m): 7:16pm On Jun 03, 2025

Nothing we no go see or hear from this Tpain government. Everywhere na there dem dey chop from. Na wa ooo... Typical agbero pattern. Let the poor masses breathe you say na lie... God is watching.

1 Like

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Ofunaofu: 7:16pm On Jun 03, 2025

benuejosh:
This is better!

Thank you Mr. President.

We're seeing he dividends of your administration this is just one of it.

smh!

You don thank Mr. President for the food wey you chop today?

12 Likes

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by RandomFellow: 7:17pm On Jun 03, 2025

See money

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Thundafireseun: 7:17pm On Jun 03, 2025

Took me a while to realize that ussd is not $ Usd or $ Usdt ….

Seriously who uses Ussd ?

I can’t remember last time I heard ussd from anyone…. I doubt if I have ever used ussd code

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Datguy00: 7:18pm On Jun 03, 2025

olawaleatanda:
what about opay and palmpay

A good question.

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by RandomFellow: 7:18pm On Jun 03, 2025

On February 28, MTN Nigeria said it received N32 billion — out of N72 billion — from banks as part of payment for the USSD debt.

See better money

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by southsouthking(m): 7:18pm On Jun 03, 2025

Could this be the best way?

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by viodemus: 7:19pm On Jun 03, 2025

its difficult to survive in Nigeria without know this and know that. May God continue to help the great igbo tribe, because this is not Igbo type of things, atall Nigeria cannot survive on corruption, religion and tribal suppression for much longer. Nigeria is a failed country.

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Lanre1st(m): 7:20pm On Jun 03, 2025

Why this administration want to milk masses dry.

Increment of everything, petrol, electricity, multiple bank charges, etc.

Are they even care at all

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Eriokanmi: 7:20pm On Jun 03, 2025

Better

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by Eriokanmi: 7:21pm On Jun 03, 2025

Control7:
That means if I don't have airtime, I can't use USSD to buy airtime from my account. This is not too good

Borrow credit

Re: NCC Asks Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Users’ Airtime by obi4eze(m): 7:21pm On Jun 03, 2025

And what's all these charges been used for?

Of course your guess is good as mine.

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