The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has enforced a new billing rule that requires mobile airtime to be used for USSD banking charges. This move was disclosed by the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in a notice to customers on Tuesday, with the implementation beginning immediately from June 3, 2025.
The message from UBA stated that the charges for using USSD services would no longer be withdrawn from users’ bank accounts. “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,” the bank said. Instead, these deductions will now be made directly from customers’ mobile airtime.
Each USSD session, according to the NCC’s End-User Billing (EUB) model, will now attract a ₦6.98 fee for every 120 seconds. This charge will be billed by users’ mobile network operators and not the banks. Before each transaction begins, customers will receive a consent prompt. Airtime will only be deducted after they confirm their intention to proceed and the bank is available to process the request.
Old Debts and New Policies
This policy change is seen by many as the commission’s latest attempt to resolve the long-standing feud over unpaid USSD service debts between mobile network operators (MNOs) and deposit money banks (DMBs). The total debt, which once stood at a staggering ₦250 billion, has been a source of tension for years.
Back in December 2024, both the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the NCC urged all parties to settle the matter. As telcos threatened to halt USSD services, the NCC responded by issuing warnings. In January 2025, the regulator took a firm stand, asking telcos to disconnect USSD codes assigned to nine banks that failed to pay their debts.
Progress seemed to surface in February when MTN Nigeria announced it had received ₦32 billion from the banks—less than half of the ₦72 billion it was owed.
UBA has reassured its customers that they can still access other digital channels like mobile apps and internet banking if they prefer not to use USSD under the new model. “If you do not wish to continue using USSD banking under this new model, you may choose to discontinue use of the USSD channel,” the bank advised.
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2 replies on “NCC Mandates Airtime Charges for Bank USSD Transactions”
[…] the charges—₦6.98 per 120 seconds—would be billed directly from users’ mobile airtime. The banks attributed the change to an NCC directive. “Under this new billing structure, each USSD session will attract a charge of ₦6.98… […]
[…] But here’s where the drama starts. The telecom companies (like MTN, Airtel, Glo) are saying, “Wait o, don’t lie on us!” They say banks haven’t paid the huge ₦250 billion debt they owe for USSD services. And now, telcos are even threatening to stop USSD services completely. As usual, it’s the customers that suffer in the middle. […]