By Dele Ogbodo
Arising from the over N250 billion outstanding Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) debt between telecommunications companies and the banks that has lingered for sometimes, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in a landmark move has engaged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with emerging positive signs of amicable resolution of the matter.
The Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, who waded into the lingering issue on behalf of the regulator, said it had become extremely necessary for the Commission to intervene in order to amicably resolve the debt issue, reaffirming that the issue would soon be put to rest amicably.
Going forward, the Commission has also revealed that it had concluded arrangement and plans to introduce new reforms aimed at improving tariff transparency in the industry due to be rolled out in the coming months, require telecom operators to provide clear roadmap on easy information accessibility on tariff plans, billing rates, and terms and conditions associated with the provision of their services.
The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola, while responding, however threatened that the telecos might be forced to disconnect the banks from the USSD platform if urgent steps were not taken to resolve the unpaid debts, which arose from the use of quick codes by their customers.
Recall that the USSD code is the quick or feature code in the global system for mobile communications GSM that facilitates a range of services, including text messaging and financial transactions such as cash transfers and balance inquiries.
Also making contribution, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria ALTON, Mr. Gbolahan Awonuga, said the debt burden had jumped to N250 billion, this he added has ALTON members uncomfortable as they can no longer tolerate such development.
The stakeholders insist that the intervention of both NCC and CBN demonstrate the Commission’s commitment to resolving the debt debacle and, by maintain the stability of the country’s financial and telecommunications sectors.
Also recall that few years back telecommunications companies expressed convergence that they may be unable to continue to provide USSD services for free, proposing to take a cut of N4.50k per 20 seconds from the charges paid by customers to banks.
