The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a new billing model for USSD transactions, allowing charges for banking services to be deducted from users' mobile airtime.
What is USSD and its Significance
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) has become an important banking alternative for users, allowing transactions without internet access. The NCC is changing the payment model for USSD services.
Banks That Have Adopted the New Model
The first banks to adopt this new model include:
- United Bank for Africa (UBA) - effective June 3, 2025. - Access Bank - effective June 3, 2025. - EcoBank - effective June 3, 2025. - GTBank - effective June 18, 2025. - Union Bank - effective July 1, 2025. - First City Monument Bank (FCMB) - effective July 2, 2025.
What Subscribers Should Know
Banking charges will now be deducted from mobile airtime rather than customers' bank accounts:
- Each USSD session (for 120 seconds) will have a fee of ₦6.98. - Users will receive a prompt for consent before any deductions. - The service remains accessible through standard banking codes. - Users can opt out of the service at any time.
The new USSD billing model represents a significant change in how banking services will be charged. With this system, users can better manage their expenses and avoid unexpected deductions.
