Telecommunications operators in Nigeria now have direct access to revenue generated from Unstructured Supplementary Service Data services, following a new billing arrangement approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The new model, known as the End-User Billing framework, allows telecommunication operators to deduct USSD service charges directly from subscribers’ airtime balances, eliminating the role of banks as intermediaries in the payment process.
Mobile operators had complained that banks were collecting service fees from customers without remitting the funds to operators, despite having received over N200bn worth of services by the end of 2024.
Under the revised model, subscribers will pay N6.98 per session lasting up to 120 seconds only after receiving a prompt to opt in and approve the deduction.
NATCOMS President described the EUB model as a long-overdue reform that brings transparency and accountability to the sector.
SUBSCRIBERS, BANKS, TELCOS AGREE ON AIRTIME BILLING
