Nigerian Communications Fee has proposed a 12-month grace interval for subscribers to retrieve unused airtime on deactivated strains.
This proposal was disclosed throughout a digital stakeholder engagement discussion board held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Government Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by the Government Commissioner for Stakeholder Administration, Rimini Makama, acknowledged that the initiative goals to strike a steadiness between shopper rights and the operational realities of the telecommunications sector.
Maida emphasised that the telecommunications trade has performed an important position in fostering {economic} progress, {financial} inclusion, and digital transformation in Nigeria.
He famous that the widespread availability of cell companies and the flexibleness of pay as you go plans have benefited hundreds of thousands of Nigerians.
Nevertheless, with the altering panorama, it has turn out to be important to deal with rising challenges that would jeopardize shopper rights.
He clarified that the proposed framework is designed to deal with the issue of unclaimed recharges when accounts are inactive.
Maida identified that the High quality-of-Service Enterprise Guidelines 2024 state {that a} pay as you go line with out a revenue-generating occasion for six months should be deactivated.
If the inactivity persists for an additional six months, the road could also be recycled.
Maida stated that the High quality-of-Service Enterprise Guidelines 2024 state {that a} pay as you go line with out a revenue-generating occasion for six months should be deactivated.
If the inactivity persists for an additional six months, the road could also be recycled.
Maida added that the initiative goals to strike a steadiness between defending shoppers and making certain the environment friendly operation of the telecommunications trade.
He stated, “The talk stays whether or not operators ought to be required to refund unused airtime or whether or not the precept of ‘use it or lose it’ ought to prevail. Our aim is to ascertain a framework that protects shoppers whereas making certain the continued effectivity and competitiveness of the trade.”
Additionally talking on the occasion, the Head of Authorized and Regulatory Providers on the NCC, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, acknowledged that the Draft Steerage on Unutilised and Unclaimed Subscribers’ Recharges is a crucial step in fulfilling the fee’s mandate to create regulatory devices that assist a vibrant communications market.
She stated, “Firstly, establishing a 12-month window throughout which affected subscribers can declare unutilised recharges after their strains have been churned, supplied they will confirm possession. This balances shopper rights with operational practicality.
“Secondly, requiring operators to conduct complete audits of all churned numbers and submit detailed documentation of all unclaimed and unutilised recharges, making certain transparency and accountability within the course of.
“Thirdly, directing that unclaimed recharges can’t be monetised however should be made accessible via service choices to the affected subscribers, together with voice choices, knowledge plans, and value-added companies on the first community.”
Whyte acknowledged that the problem of unutilised and unclaimed recharges on churned subscriber strains presents each a problem for shopper safety and a possibility for regulation.
She additional added that the fee is devoted to selling a good, clear, and consumer-centric telecommunications atmosphere.
