NCC Cracks Down on Unclaimed Prepaid Credits – Subscribers Could Lose Millions

NCC Cracks Down on Unclaimed Prepaid Credits – Subscribers Could Lose Millions

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) convened an Industry Consultative Forum on Tuesday to discuss a new regulatory framework designed to manage unutilized and unclaimed airtime and data recharges for telecom subscribers.……… READ MORE 

The hybrid event, which took place in Abuja, included both in-person and virtual participation, bringing together key stakeholders such as Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), legal experts, consumer rights advocates, and senior officials from the NCC.

Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, called the forum an important milestone in addressing the growing concerns around unused prepaid credits on inactive telecom lines. Represented by Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Maida highlighted the importance of the telecommunications sector in driving economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital transformation in Nigeria.

“Telecommunications have become integral to economic development, with prepaid plans offering millions of Nigerians flexibility and affordability,” said Maida. “As the sector evolves, we must also address emerging challenges to ensure consumer rights are not compromised, especially in cases where prepaid balances remain unused on inactive accounts.”

Maida further emphasized that addressing these challenges requires a collective effort from all industry players. “Striking the right balance between safeguarding consumer rights, effective regulatory oversight, and ensuring industry sustainability requires collaboration,” he said.

The forum focused on finding practical solutions for managing unclaimed recharges, referring to the NCC’s Quality-of-Service Business Rules 2024. These rules stipulate that a prepaid line that remains inactive for six months must be deactivated and can be recycled after another six months. Subscribers can reclaim their credits within 12 months by proving ownership.

The proposed Draft Guidance aims to standardize the process, suggesting that operators audit churned numbers, keep transparent records, and offer unclaimed recharges as services such as data bundles or calls, instead of providing refunds.

Mrs. Chizua Whyte, Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at NCC, opened the event, emphasizing the framework’s focus on fairness, transparency, and consumer protection. “Managing unutilized and unclaimed recharges on churned lines presents both a consumer protection challenge and a regulatory opportunity,” she noted.

The framework is designed to ensure that subscribers can access their credits while offering operators regulatory clarity, aligning with global best practices.