The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has mandated a significant shift in how banks bill customers for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) transactions. Beginning June 3, 2025, banks are to stop debiting customers’ bank accounts for USSD services and instead deduct the charges directly from users’ mobile airtime. This policy change aligns with the Commission’s End-User Billing (EUB) framework, which places the billing responsibility with the telecom operators.
United Bank for Africa (UBA) was among the first financial institutions to announce the implementation of the new billing model. In a customer communication titled “New NCC-Mandated USSD Billing Process”, the bank confirmed that the ₦6.98 fee per USSD session—charged every 120 seconds—will no longer come from customers’ account balances but from their prepaid airtime. Customers will also be required to confirm their consent before any charge is applied.
According to the bank, a consent prompt will appear at the beginning of each session, and airtime will only be deducted if the customer accepts the prompt and the bank is available to process the transaction. This two-step confirmation aims to increase transparency and ensure that users are only charged when a service is successfully delivered.
UBA advised customers who are not comfortable with the new billing arrangement to discontinue the use of the USSD channel. Instead, the bank recommended switching to other digital banking options like its mobile app and internet banking, which offer a more convenient experience.
According to the management, the new billing structure is part of ongoing efforts to streamline USSD charges and ensure transparency in financial transactions conducted via mobile networks, aligning with the NCC’s directive.
With banks like UBA already on board, other financial institutions are expected to follow suit in the coming days. Customers using USSD codes for services such as transfers, balance inquiries, and airtime top-ups should now ensure they have sufficient airtime before initiating a transaction.
