FG To Telcos: Stay Action On Suspension Of USSD Services

The Federal Government has directed Mobile Network Operators
(MNOs) to put the planned suspension of the USSD services on
hold.

The directive issued on Saturday was contained in a statement
signed by the Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to the
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Femi
Adeluyi.

This follows the suspension, which was to take effect on Monday,
15th of March, 2021, due to the lingering debt owed MNOs by
commercial banks for the provision of USSD banking services.

According to the statement, following the directives of the
Honourable Minister Dr Isa Pantami on the 20th of October 2019,
consumers of telecommunication services and the general public were
notified of the immediate suspension of End User Billing for
financial transactions through USSD channels.

“Furthermore, as part of measures aimed at addressing the
lingering issue of the impasse in the rendering of USSD services to
Banks and other financial institutions by Mobile Network Operators
(MNOs), an amended Determination on USSD Pricing was issued by the
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the 24th of July 2020.
However, the issue persisted, hence the decision to suspend the
service,” the statement added.

Pantami, according to Adeluyi, sent a letter with respect to the
issues to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on the 3rd of
March 2021, regarding the need to direct the banks to do the
needful.

The minister has called for a meeting of all stakeholders,
including the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the
Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, the MNOs and the financial
institutions.

The meeting, according to the statement, is scheduled to hold on
Monday, 15th of March, 2021.

“The outcome of the meeting will determine the next steps
regarding the status of the USSD financial services,” Adeluyi
said.

The Federal Government has directed Mobile Network Operators
(MNOs) to put the planned suspension of the USSD services on
hold.

The directive issued on Saturday was contained in a statement
signed by the Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to the
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Femi
Adeluyi.

This follows the suspension, which was to take effect on Monday,
15th of March, 2021, due to the lingering debt owed MNOs by
commercial banks for the provision of USSD banking services.

According to the statement, following the directives of the
Honourable Minister Dr Isa Pantami on the 20th of October 2019,
consumers of telecommunication services and the general public were
notified of the immediate suspension of End User Billing for
financial transactions through USSD channels.

“Furthermore, as part of measures aimed at addressing the
lingering issue of the impasse in the rendering of USSD services to
Banks and other financial institutions by Mobile Network Operators
(MNOs), an amended Determination on USSD Pricing was issued by the
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the 24th of July 2020.
However, the issue persisted, hence the decision to suspend the
service,” the statement added.

Pantami, according to Adeluyi, sent a letter with respect to the
issues to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on the 3rd of
March 2021, regarding the need to direct the banks to do the
needful.

The minister has called for a meeting of all stakeholders,
including the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the
Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, the MNOs and the financial
institutions.

The meeting, according to the statement, is scheduled to hold on
Monday, 15th of March, 2021.

“The outcome of the meeting will determine the next steps
regarding the status of the USSD financial services,” Adeluyi
said.