The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Tuesday hosted a virtual Stakeholder Engagement Forum to deliberate on the Draft Guidance for the management of unutilized and unclaimed subscriber recharges in the Nigerian telecom sector.
The high-level forum brought together key industry stakeholders, telecom operators, legal experts, and consumer advocacy groups to address lingering concerns over forfeited airtime from inactive lines and to chart a regulatory path that ensures both consumer protection and operational efficiency.
In a welcome address delivered on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC)/CEO, Dr. Aminu Maida, by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, the Commission emphasized the need for a balanced approach in safeguarding consumer rights while supporting the sustainability of telecom operations.
“The issue of unclaimed recharges has become an emerging concern. Our goal is to arrive at a framework that protects consumers while ensuring the continued efficiency and competitiveness of the industry,” Dr. Maida stated.
The EVC reiterated that under the Quality-of-Service Business Rules 2024, a prepaid line without a Revenue Generating Event for six months must be deactivated, and may be recycled after another six months of inactivity. However, subscribers retain the right to reclaim their unused credit within 12 months, provided ownership can be established.
Delivering the opening remarks, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at the NCC, explained the provisions of the Draft Guidance. She highlighted that the framework aimed to:
- Establish a 12-month window for subscribers to reclaim unutilized airtime;
- Mandate detailed audits by operators on churned lines;
- Prevent operators from monetizing unclaimed credits, instead offering them as service alternatives such as voice, data, or value-added services.
“The Draft Guidance represents our commitment to fair, practical, and transparent regulation that serves the collective interests of consumers and service providers,” Mrs. Whyte said.
A synopsis of the forum noted that the framework aligned with international best practices in the U.S., EU, and India. It also stated that operators have a 90-day compliance window upon issuance of the final guideline, with penalties for non-compliance including fines and regulatory audits.
Participants at the forum lauded the initiative and expressed readiness to support the implementation process while offering constructive feedback to fine-tune the final policy.
The NCC assured stakeholders that the final regulatory instrument will reflect shared interests and uphold the Commission’s broader mandate to foster a digitally inclusive and consumer-friendly telecommunications ecosystem.
