\u00a0In what many are describing as a bold step toward consumer-centric reform in Nigeria\u2019s telecom space, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) today convened a virtual stakeholder forum<\/strong> focused on the growing concern of unclaimed prepaid airtime balances<\/strong>\u2014a topic that has sparked debates across boardrooms, consumer circles, and policy spaces.<\/p>\n The event, which attracted major players from telecom companies, consumer advocacy groups, regulators, and tech analysts, was opened with a welcome address by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida<\/strong>, delivered on his behalf by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Ms. Rimini Makama<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In his heartfelt message, Dr. Maida didn\u2019t mince words about the urgent need to find clarity and fairness in how dormant prepaid balances are handled<\/strong>, especially as mobile communication continues to define life and commerce in Nigeria.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is more than just policy\u2014it\u2019s about people,\u201d the EVC emphasized. \u201cMillions of Nigerians rely on prepaid services because of the flexibility and affordability they offer. But as our sector evolves, we must ensure that no consumer is left behind or shortchanged.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n For many Nigerians, topping up airtime is a daily ritual. But what happens when a SIM card goes silent for too long\u2014due to loss, theft, or simply not being in use? That\u2019s the grey area the NCC is now confronting head-on.<\/p>\n \u201cAccording to the Quality-of-Service Business Rules 2024,\u201d Dr. Maida explained, \u201ca prepaid line that has no revenue-generating event for six months must be deactivated. If that inactivity continues for another six months, the line can be recycled for reassignment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He quickly added that this is not a free-for-all for operators<\/strong>, pointing out that the rights of subscribers must be preserved.<\/p>\n \u201cSubscribers still have the right to reclaim their unused credit within one year, as long as they can prove ownership of the line,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is a protection mechanism to make sure customers are not stripped of their credit simply because of unforeseen inactivity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n One of the most engaging parts of Dr. Maida\u2019s address was his openness in acknowledging the controversy surrounding unclaimed recharges<\/strong>. Should telecom operators refund them? Should unused balances expire? Where do you draw the line between consumer rights and operational realities?<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s an ongoing debate,\u201d he noted, \u201con whether the principle of \u2018use it or lose it\u2019 should prevail, or if we must create new mechanisms for refunding unused airtime. It\u2019s not a simple question. But that\u2019s exactly why we\u2019re here\u2014to listen, to debate, and to co-create a policy direction.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He added that the Commission was not positioning itself as an arbiter, but rather as a facilitator of solutions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not here with fixed answers,\u201d Dr. Maida said. \u201cWe\u2019re here to ask the right questions and engage with stakeholders\u2014both operators and consumers\u2014in shaping policies that are inclusive, fair, and forward-thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In a sector where trust can be easily eroded by service glitches or billing issues, the NCC made it clear that restoring and maintaining consumer confidence is non-negotiable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that consumer trust is the currency that sustains this industry,\u201d Dr. Maida declared. \u201cIf people begin to feel that their airtime can disappear without trace or recourse, we risk losing the very foundation upon which telecom services are built.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In closing, Dr. Maida made a passionate appeal for continued collaboration among all parties\u2014regulators, telcos, consumer groups, and the media\u2014to ensure that policy remains dynamic, inclusive, and adaptable.<\/p>\n \u201cStriking the right balance between safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring regulatory oversight, while maintaining industry sustainability, requires a collective effort,\u201d he said. \u201cThis forum is a vital opportunity for us to ask hard questions and find practical, actionable answers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cLet\u2019s talk honestly. Let\u2019s listen openly. And let\u2019s build a telecom ecosystem that works for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The forum continues with presentations and breakout discussions expected to shape a whitepaper or policy recommendation in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0In what many are describing as a bold step toward consumer-centric reform in Nigeria\u2019s telecom space, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) today convened a virtual stakeholder forum focused on the growing concern of unclaimed prepaid airtime balances\u2014a topic that has sparked debates across boardrooms, consumer circles, and policy spaces. The event, which attracted major players […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[302,16,82,83,334],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-announcements","category-business","category-technology","category-technology-trends","category-telecoms"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27689"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27689\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
A System That Must Work for Everyone<\/h3>\n
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\u201cUse It or Lose It\u201d? Not So Fast\u2026<\/h3>\n
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Consumer Trust Is Currency<\/h3>\n
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A Call for Collaborative Action<\/h3>\n
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