{"id":360683,"date":"2021-06-04T19:18:15","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T18:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/?p=360683"},"modified":"2021-06-04T19:18:44","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T18:18:44","slug":"nigerians-now-charged-compulsory-n6-98-for-ussd-transactions-citizens-kick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/?p=360683","title":{"rendered":"Nigerians Now Charged Compulsory N6.98 For USSD Transactions, Citizens Kick"},"content":{"rendered":"
Many customers of USSD services in Nigeria on Friday have said a pop-up message has notified them of the new N6.98 charges for each transaction.
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USSD is a critical channel for delivering financial services, especially for those who do not have access to physical banking infrastructure or internet services.
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\u201cWelcome to USSD Banking,\u201d one notice said. \u201cPlease note, a N6.98 network charge will be applied to your account for banking services on this channel.\u201d<\/p>\n

The decision to charge users was reached in March by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Channels reported.<\/p>\n

The decision was part of an agreement reached with deposit money banks following a disagreement between banks and telecom firms over USSD and other text message transaction requests.<\/p>\n

\u201cEffective March 16, 2021, USSD services for financial transactions conducted at DMBs (Deposit Money Banks) and all CBN-licensed institutions will be charged at a flat fee of N6.98 per transaction,\u201d a March statement signed by the CBN and NCC partly read.<\/p>\n

The charge is expected to be withdrawn from users\u2019 bank accounts and remitted to mobile network operators, who provide infrastructure for the service to operate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe general public is reminded that the USSD channel is optional, as several alternative channels such as mobile apps, internet banking and ATMs may be used for financial transactions,\u201d the CBN and NCC said in its joint statement in March.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe CBN and NCC shall continue to engage relevant operators and all stakeholders to promote cheaper, seamless access to mobile and financial services for all Nigerians.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many Nigerians took to Twitter early Friday to express their dismay over the charges.<\/p>\n

There are concerns about how the new charge will affect financial inclusion, particularly for people who do not have access to internet services.<\/p>\n

Below are some of the reactions:<\/p>\n

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USSD has helped us to achieve our cashless policy, now you want to collect N6.98 per transaction.
\nJust say you want to take us backward.#USSD<\/a> #chioma<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Gabriel Ajigboye (@gabrieldicon) June 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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Nigeria, my country. With the whole thing happening, all banks could think about is imposing more legal charges on #USSD<\/a> on their customers. Indeed, we’re at all time low. Nothing works anymore.<\/p>\n

The poor must survive!<\/p>\n

\u2014 CDC (@destinychukwu61) June 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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No information prior to this time, like we have 7 Naira to spare. What are the leaders bringing to the table, but they keep taking food out from our mouth. #USSD<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jimol \u00f0\u0178\u017d\u00af (@JimolWest) June 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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Calculate your spendings, schedule your ATM withdrawals, Get your Mobile App installed. Buy recharge cards and keep.<\/p>\n

Say No to #USSD<\/a> Exploitation.
\nIf you doubt me, ask #ElonMusk<\/a> and #Tompolo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Maikel Ndubuisi\u00e2\u0161\u2122\u00ef\u00b8\ufffd (@iam_maikelbrown) June 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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I no understand this rubbish oo…abi na the new #UAR<\/a> policy ni? Let’s even forget the 6 naira, which one is .98 kobo again?..they just want to be spoiling person money with this new #USSD<\/a> policy… Nigeria never hard enough?\u00f0\u0178\u2122\u201e pic.twitter.com\/tceEEU5d1z<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 crown (@A_adedamolav) June 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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This country na scam o.. even USSD want to start removing charges ehnn..ahhh#USSD<\/a> #june12protest<\/a> #EndSARS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/uCcuYuEP93<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Natasha Amaka (@Natashagoldd) June 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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Nigerians will have to get @TundeIrukera<\/a>‘s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council @fccpcnigeria<\/a> involved in this issue of charge for use #USSD<\/a>. That decision should be tripatrite. It is not okay that only CBN and NCC will take such decision without input by Nigerians<\/p>\n

\u2014 Solopenja (@solomonapenja) June 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

(SaharaReporters)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many customers of USSD services in Nigeria on Friday have said a pop-up message has notified them of the new N6.98 charges for each transaction. USSD is a critical channel for delivering financial services, especially for those who do not have access to physical banking infrastructure or internet services. \u201cWelcome to USSD Banking,\u201d one notice […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":360684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[1578,2197,16010,399],"class_list":["post-360683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-access-bank","tag-cbn","tag-godwin-emefiele","tag-twitter"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/360683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=360683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/360683\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/360684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=360683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=360683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arewa.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=360683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}