Abuja, Nigeria – June 3, 2025
The Federal Government has directed all commercial banks to begin deducting Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) charges directly from customers’ airtime instead of their bank accounts.
The directive, issued through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is part of the implementation of the End-User Billing (EUB) model aimed at resolving the prolonged dispute between banks and telecommunications operators over USSD service charges.
Under the new arrangement, mobile subscribers will be charged ₦6.98 per 20 seconds for each USSD session, and the amount will be debited from their mobile airtime balance. This model is designed to promote transparency and protect consumers from unauthorized deductions by banks.
According to the NCC, telecom service providers will now be responsible for deducting USSD charges, and customers will receive a prompt for approval before the deduction is made. The commission added that the policy is in line with the government’s commitment to enhancing financial inclusion and ensuring fairness in digital transactions.
Stakeholders have welcomed the move, noting that it will reduce the burden on bank customers and encourage wider use of USSD-based financial services, especially in rural and underserved areas