The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has initiated discussions on regulating unclaimed airtime and data balances in the telecommunications sector. The commission held an Industry Consultative Forum on April 8, 2025, to deliberate on a proposed regulatory framework. The event, held in Abuja, brought together stakeholders including Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), legal experts, consumer rights advocates, and senior NCC officials to address the issue of unused prepaid credits on inactive subscriber lines.
Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, emphasized the importance of upholding consumer rights while ensuring industry sustainability. He acknowledged the role of the telecommunications sector in economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital transformation, stressing the need to tackle emerging challenges such as unused prepaid balances on inactive accounts. Maida’s remarks were delivered by Rimini Makama, the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management.
The proposed regulatory framework, outlined in the NCC’s Draft Guidance, seeks to establish clearer procedures for managing unclaimed recharges. It includes recommendations for telecom operators to conduct audits of churned numbers, maintain transparent records, and offer unused credits as service options such as data bundles, voice calls, or value-added services, rather than issuing refunds. The framework is aimed at standardizing the process, providing transparency, and ensuring consumer protection.
The framework aligns with international best practices, according to Mrs. Chizua Whyte, the Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at the NCC. She highlighted that the guidance would provide clarity to both subscribers and service providers, protecting consumer interests while offering regulatory clarity on the management of unused credits from inactive lines. The new rules will also ensure that subscribers can reclaim unused credit within 12 months, provided they verify ownership.
Source: the sun