The Ministry of Communications has ordered that the plan to charge N4 per 20 seconds for USSD access for banking services be suspended until the Minister of Communications, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami is briefed about the development.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports some telecom operators in the country have sent notice through SMS to customers informing them of the development to to charge N4 per 20 seconds for USSD access for banking services.
“Yello, Please note that from Oct 21, we will charge N4 per 20 seconds for USSD access to banking services. Thank you,” was the message MTN Nigeria sent to customers.
Some customers have complained of already being charged several sum by different operators for using USSD codes to access banking services.
According to a statement signed by Spokesperson to the Minister of Communications, Uwa Suleiman (Mrs), Pantami was unaware of this development.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Communications has been drawn to the viral text message allegedly sent by the Mobile Network Operator MTN Nigeria and other Mobile Operators notifying subscribers of a four naira (N4:00) charge per 20 seconds on USSD access to banking services from the 21st of October 2019.
“The office of the Honourable Minister of Communications Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM is unaware of this development and has hereby directed the sector regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) ensures the operator suspends such plans until the Honourable Minister is fully and properly briefed”.