The Honourable Minister of Communication, Dr Isa Ibrahim Pantami has directed immediate suspension of 4 naira charges on USSD service by Mobile Telecommunication of Nigeria (MTN) on baking transactions.
The MTN has on Sunday morning send its subscribers a message that reads, “Yello, Please note that from Oct 21, we will charge N4 per 20 seconds for USSD access to banking services. Thank you.”
However, a statement by Mrs Uwa Suleiman, Spokesperson to the Honourable Minister of Communications on Sunday directed immediate suspension of the charges until he’s properly briefed.
The Minister said he’s unaware of the imposed charges.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Communications has been drawn to the viral text message allegedly sent by the Mobile Network Operator MTN Nigeria and other Mobile Operators notifying subscribers of a four naira (N4:00) charge per 20 seconds on USSD access to banking services from the 21st of October 2019.
“The office of the Honourable Minister of Communications Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM is unaware of this development and has hereby directed the sector regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) ensures the operator suspends such plans until the Honourable Minister is fully and properly briefed.”
