The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has opened discussions on a proposed regulatory framework aimed at managing unutilised and unclaimed airtime and data recharges left behind by inactive telecom subscribers.
This was the focus of an Industry Consultative Forum held in Abuja on Tuesday, with participants joining both physically and virtually. Attendees included representatives from mobile network operators (MNOs), legal professionals, consumer rights advocates, and senior officials of the NCC.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida—represented by Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama—described the forum as a critical step in protecting consumer rights and ensuring regulatory clarity in an evolving telecoms landscape.
"As the sector evolves, and in line with our commitment to ensuring quality of experience for telecom consumers, we must address emerging challenges—especially those that may compromise consumer rights," Maida stated. "One such challenge is the fate of prepaid balances when accounts become inactive."
He referenced the NCC's 2024 Quality-of-Service Business Rules, which require that prepaid lines inactive for six months be deactivated and may be recycled after another six months. However, subscribers retain the right to reclaim unused credit within a 12-month period if ownership can be verified.
To streamline this process, the NCC has proposed a Draft Guidance that mandates telecom operators to audit churned numbers, keep transparent records, and offer unclaimed balances in the form of service options such as data, voice, or value-added services—rather than issuing refunds.
Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at the NCC, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, added that the framework is rooted in principles of fairness, transparency, and international best practices.
"The issue of unutilized and unclaimed recharges on churned subscriber lines represents both a consumer protection challenge and a regulatory opportunity," she said. "This Draft Guidance seeks to establish clear and fair procedures to ensure subscribers retain rightful access to their purchased credits while providing operators with the regulatory clarity they need."
The NCC stressed that this collaborative approach with industry players would help strike a balance between consumer protection, effective oversight, and industry sustainability.
