"NCC Reveals Reasons for Authorizing Disconnection of Banks' USSD Services"

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the withdrawal of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services from Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) by the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). 

The decision came after DMBs refused to pay the N120bn debt owed to telecom operators for USSD services, despite numerous interventions by stakeholders. 

ALTON had announced that bank customers would not be able to use the USSD services as the lenders would be disconnected. 

The indebtedness would negatively impact the digital and financial inclusion programme of the Federal Government. 

The NCC approved the disconnection, and the MNOs are authorized to withdraw the services if the transaction was unprofitable to them. 

The President Bank Customers Association of Nigeria condemned the decision, noting that it would have a detrimental effect on members of the public who rely on the services that the banks provide.