The Association of Telephones, Cable TV, and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) has expressed strong support for the recent directive jointly issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The directive mandates Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to resolve a lingering N250 billion debt dispute over Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services within six months.
ATCIS National President, Prince Sina Bilesanmi, in a statement released in Lagos on Thursday, endorsed the move while congratulating Christians and Nigerians on the occasion of the 2024 Boxing Day celebrations. He described the directive as a crucial step toward resolving the protracted disagreements between the banking and telecommunications sectors.
According to Prince Bilesanmi, the directive was communicated in a joint circular titled “2nd Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission on the Resolution of the USSD Debt Issue Between Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators.” It was signed by Oladimeji Taiwo, Acting Director of the Payments System Management Department at CBN, and Chizua Whyte, Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at NCC, on December 20, 2024.
Key Mandates in the Directive
The circular outlined several measures to address the dispute, which has persisted despite multiple efforts to find a resolution. It stated that:
- Pre-API Debt Settlement: Commercial banks are required to pay 60% of all outstanding invoices for services provided before the implementation of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) in February 2022. This payment, considered full and final settlement, must be completed by July 2, 2025. Payment plans—either as a lump sum or in installments—must be agreed upon by January 2, 2025.
- Post-API Debt Settlement: Banks must pay 85% of outstanding invoices for services provided after the API implementation by December 31, 2024. Future invoices must be settled within one month of issuance.
- Suspension of Legal Actions: Both DMBs and MNOs have been directed to halt all ongoing legal proceedings related to the USSD debt issue.
- End-User Billing Transition: The directive also emphasized that only compliant banks and telecom operators would be eligible to transition to end-user billing for USSD services.
- Public Enlightenment: The CBN and NCC will issue further guidance on educating the public about the planned transition to end-user billing.
- 10-Second Rule for Billing: MNOs are to implement a “10-second rule,” under which any USSD session lasting less than ten seconds will not be billable.
Enforcement and Sanctions
The circular warned that non-compliance with the outlined directives would attract sanctions from both the CBN and NCC, reaffirming the regulators’ commitment to ensuring stability in the financial and telecommunications sectors.
Prince Bilesanmi Commends Regulators
Prince Bilesanmi lauded the efforts of the CBN and NCC, noting that the directive reflects a genuine determination to end the long-standing dispute. He urged both sectors to cooperate fully and adhere to the payment timelines to avoid sanctions and ensure the uninterrupted provision of USSD services for millions of Nigerians.
“This proactive approach by the regulators shows their unwavering commitment to resolving disputes and fostering harmony between these vital sectors. We look forward to a swift resolution and better collaboration moving forward,” he said.
ATCIS reaffirmed its support for the regulators’ actions and emphasized the importance of safeguarding the interests of subscribers, who have often borne the brunt of the conflict between banks and telecom operators.
