NCC Proposes 12-Month Grace to Reclaim Airtime

The proposal was presented during a virtual stakeholder engagement session held on Tuesday in Abuja. Representing the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, stated that the move is intended to strike a balance between operational realities and consumer protection.

Dr. Maida noted that Nigeria’s telecom industry has been instrumental in driving financial inclusion, digital connectivity, and economic progress. However, he acknowledged that new challenges have emerged, requiring updated policies to prevent the erosion of consumer rights. One such issue involves unclaimed airtime left behind when phone lines are deactivated due to inactivity.

According to existing regulations outlined in the Quality-of-Service Business Rules 2024, a prepaid mobile line becomes eligible for deactivation after six months of no revenue-generating activity. If this inactivity continues for another six months, the line can then be reassigned or recycled.

Under the newly proposed framework, once a line is deactivated—or “churned”—affected users would be given up to one year to reclaim their remaining airtime, as long as they can prove ownership of the line. This, Maida explained, is aimed at ensuring that subscribers are not unfairly deprived of credit they have already paid for, while still allowing telecom operators to maintain system efficiency.

He further remarked that the commission is still weighing whether service providers should be obligated to refund unused airtime or whether a “use it or lose it” model remains the most practical. The ultimate goal, he said, is to find a fair and sustainable middle ground.

Adding to the conversation, NCC’s Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, described the draft guidelines on unclaimed airtime as a significant step toward regulatory clarity and consumer empowerment. She explained that the proposed policy would require telecom operators to conduct thorough audits of all deactivated numbers and report unutilized airtime, which must remain accessible to the original subscribers. Rather than converting the airtime into cash, providers would be obligated to offer it back through available telecom services such as voice calls, data packages, and other value-added offerings.

Mrs. Whyte emphasized that subscribers frequently lose access to prepaid credits after long periods of inactivity, often without prior warning or recourse. The updated framework, she said, would ensure fair access to these credits, increase transparency, and bring Nigeria in line with international standards seen in regions like the United States, the European Union, and India.

She concluded by saying that full compliance from service providers would be expected within 90 days of the final policy’s release, including mandatory public education campaigns to inform subscribers of their rights under the new rules.

The NCC reiterated its commitment to building a fair, open, and consumer-centered telecom ecosystem, and said that the feedback gathered from stakeholders during the engagement will play a critical role in shaping the final regulatory direction.