The Federal government has told Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to pull the brakes on their intended suspension of the USSD services.
The directive was put in a statement issued by Dr Femi Adeluyi, the Technical Assistant (Information Technology), on behalf of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.
Indeed the Telcos had given notice that they will suspend the USSD services to banks, effective March 15, over a lingering debt of about N42billion. But Adeluy’s statement, following the directives of the minister, Dr Isa Pantami on the October 20 2019, consumers of telecommunication services and the 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, wrote a letter with respect to the issues to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on the March 3, 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, March 15, 2021.
“The outcome of the meeting will determine the next steps regarding the status of the USSD financial services,” Adeluyi concluded.
