The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has put forward a proposal that could significantly benefit telecom subscribers: a 12-month grace period to reclaim unused airtime on mobile lines that have been deactivated. This proposal was disclosed during a virtual forum held in Abuja on Tuesday, marking a crucial step in the NCC’s efforts to protect consumer rights while maintaining operational efficiency in the telecommunications sector.
The NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Aminu Maida, represented by Rimini Makama, the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, emphasized the importance of balancing consumer protection with the operational realities faced by telecom operators. He noted that the telecommunications industry has been instrumental in driving Nigeria’s economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital transformation. However, Maida acknowledged that emerging challenges, like the issue of unused recharge credits on inactive accounts, must be addressed.
Under the current regulations outlined in the Quality-of-Service Business Rules 2024, prepaid lines that experience six months of inactivity are deactivated. If the inactivity continues for another six months, the line may be recycled. To address this, the proposed framework would allow subscribers whose lines have been deactivated a full year to reclaim any unused airtime, provided they can verify ownership of the account.
Maida emphasized that this proposal was designed to offer a fair solution for consumers while ensuring that operators can continue to maintain efficient and competitive services in a rapidly evolving industry. He raised the ongoing debate of whether telecom operators should refund unused airtime or follow the principle of “use it or lose it,” noting that the NCC’s goal is to create a balanced framework that protects consumers and sustains industry performance.
Further details were shared by Mrs. Chizua Whyte, Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at the NCC. She outlined key provisions of the draft guidelines, including the establishment of a 12-month window for subscribers to claim unutilized airtime after their lines are churned, with proof of ownership. In addition, operators would be required to conduct thorough audits of all churned numbers and submit detailed reports of unclaimed and unused recharges, ensuring greater transparency in the process.
Importantly, the proposal clarifies that unused airtime will not be monetized. Instead, the unclaimed credits will be made available through alternative services, such as voice offerings, data plans, and value-added services, on the primary network. This move aligns with international best practices from countries like the United States, the European Union, and India, where similar systems prioritize service alternatives over cash refunds.
The NCC has set a 90-day deadline for operators to comply with the new guidelines and expects them to implement comprehensive consumer education and notification strategies during this period. According to Whyte, the commission is committed to ensuring a fair, transparent, and consumer-friendly telecommunications environment in Nigeria.
This initiative marks an important step forward in addressing the issue of unutilized recharges and safeguarding the interests of consumers in an increasingly digital world.
