Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted approval to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to disconnect Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes assigned to financial institutions that remain indebted to the operators.
This action will take effect if outstanding invoices are not settled by Monday, January 27, 2025.
The telecom regulatory body, in line with its mandate to safeguard consumer interests, informs the public that access to USSD platforms provided by affected financial institutions may be disrupted starting January 27, 2025.
The Commission added that it will also recover such USSD codes and may reassign them to other applicants as per its Guidelines on Short Code Operation in Nigeria, 2023.
As of Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the Commission identified nine financial institutions that have significantly failed to comply with the directives outlined in the Second Joint Circular issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the NCC on December 20, 2024.
The non-compliance has also rendered these institutions ineligible to meet the “Good Standing” requirements necessary for the renewal of their USSD codes.
The affected Financial Institutions and USSD Codes are:
Fidelity Bank Plc- 770
First City Monument Bank – 329
Jaiz Bank Plc – 773
Polaris Bank Limited- 833
Sterling Bank Limited- 822
United Bank for Africa Plc- 919
Unity Bank Plc- 7799
Wema Bank Plc- 945
Zenith Bank Plc- 966
The NCC reiterates that these financial institutions have been duly notified and urged to comply immediately to avoid disruptions.
This development underscores the NCC’s commitment to ensuring fair practices and consumer protection within the telecommunications sector.
