By Juliet Umeh
In a decisive move to strengthen consumer protection within Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has introduced new draft guidelines to address the issue of unutilised and unclaimed airtime and data on inactive subscriber lines.
This is as the commission is proposing a
12-month grace period for subscribers to recover balances after line deactivation.
The initiative, announced at a high-level consultative forum in Abuja—attended by telecom operators, consumer advocacy groups, and industry stakeholders—signals the Commission’s commitment to ensuring fairness, transparency, and operational balance in the telecom ecosystem.
Speaking at the event, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Ms. Rimini Makama, reaffirmed the regulator’s focus on consumer-centric policies that do not compromise industry sustainability.
“As we evolve, we must ensure consumers are not left behind,” Dr. Maida said. “Our goal is to create a regulatory framework that balances consumer rights with operational practicality.”
The proposed Draft Guidance on Unutilised and Unclaimed Recharges expands upon the provisions of the recently issued Quality of Service Business Rules 2024, which mandate the deactivation of prepaid lines with no revenue-generating activity over a six-month period, followed by potential recycling after another six months of inactivity.
Under the new draft rules, however, consumers will be entitled to reclaim any unused airtime or data up to 12 months after deactivation—contingent upon verification of line ownership.
Key Provisions of the Draft Guidance:
12-month recovery window for subscribers to reclaim unutilised airtime and data.
Restriction on monetisation of unclaimed balances—recovered airtime must be used strictly for telecom services (voice, data, or value-added services).
Mandatory awareness campaigns by operators to educate consumers about their rights and recovery processes.
90-day compliance timeline for implementation, with mechanisms for regulatory audits and enforcement.
Speaking on the legal framework, Head of Legal & Regulatory Services at the NCC, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, highlighted the alignment with global standards:
“We are adopting international best practices that emphasise transparency and practical solutions, rather than monetary compensation,” she said.
The NCC reiterated that airtime is a consumable service—not a financial asset—and that this initiative aims to preserve consumer rights while maintaining industry competitiveness and innovation.
By proposing these new safeguards, the Commission continues to underscore its role as a proactive regulator—committed to building a telecom sector that places consumers at its core while enabling sustainable business operations.
