N42bn Debt: Federal Government Of Nigeria Stops Telcos From Disconnecting USSD Services

The Federal Government, on Saturday, asked telecommunication operators to put on hold, their impending suspension of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data services over a N42bn debt owed by banks.

This was contained in a statement signed by Femi Adeluyi, technical Assistant on Information Technology to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria said telcos will disconnect Financial Service Providers from USSD services from March 15 until they pay their over N42bn debt.

ALTON had explained that the service withdrawal become necessary due to the lack of agreement on a payment structure with the banks that did not involve the end-user being asked to pay.

However, in the statement on Saturday night titled, ‘Impending Suspension of USSD Banking Services Put On Hold’, the minister asked the mobile operators to abort the action.

The statement partly read, “In a bid to ensure amicable resolution of the impasse, Dr Pantami has called for a meeting of all stakeholders, including Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC (Nigerian Communications Commission), the MNOs (Mobile Network Operators), and the financial institutions.

“The meeting is scheduled to hold on Monday, 15th of March, 2021.

“The outcome of the meeting will determine the next step regarding the status of the USSD financial services.”

– Punch