The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has mandated Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to begin charging customers for USSD transactions directly from their mobile airtime, rather than debiting their bank accounts.
This directive, communicated to customers via an email from United Bank for Africa (UBA) on Tuesday, takes effect from June 3, 2025.
UBA stated “In line with the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission, effective June 3, 2025, charges for USSD banking services will no longer be deducted from your bank account.
These charges will now be taken directly from your mobile airtime balance in line with the NCC’s End-User Billing model.”
Under the new arrangement, each USSD session will cost ₦6.98 per 120 seconds, billed by the customer’s mobile network provider. Before a session begins, users will receive a consent prompt.
Airtime will only be deducted if the customer agrees and the bank is ready to process the request. Customers not comfortable with this billing model can opt out of using USSD banking services.
UBA advised customers to use alternative digital channels such as mobile and internet banking for continued access to banking services.
This move appears to be part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Communications Commission to resolve the prolonged dispute between telecom operators and banks over unpaid USSD fees, which had accumulated to ₦250 billion by late 2024.
In response to threats by telecom companies to suspend USSD services due to the debt, the NCC had in January 2025 ordered the disconnection of USSD codes assigned to nine banks.
As of February 28, MTN Nigeria confirmed receiving ₦32 billion of the ₦72 billion owed by banks.
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The USSD billing issue has been a persistent challenge in Nigeria’s telecom and banking sectors, prompting several interventions by both the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
