The federal government has ordered the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to suspend the N4 per second imposed by MTN on subscribers to USSD access to banking services charges.
The Minister of Communications Dr Ibrahim Ali Pantami gave the directive through a statement by his Media aide Uwa Suleiman on Sunday.
The Minister said MTN should stay action on the matter pending when he is properly briefed on it.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Communications has been drawn to the viral text message allegedly sent by the Mobile Network Operator MTN Nigeria and other Mobile Operators notifying subscribers of a N4:00 charge per 20 seconds on USSD access to banking services from the 21st of October 2019.
“The office of the Honourable Minister of Communications Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM is unaware of this development and has hereby directed the sector regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) ensures the operator suspends such plans until the Honourable Minister is fully and properly briefed.”