NCC Proposes 12-Month Grace Period for Reclaiming Airtime on Deactivated Lines
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has proposed a 12-month grace period for subscribers to reclaim unused airtime from deactivated lines. This was announced during a virtual stakeholder engagement forum held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Dr. Aminu Maida—represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama—explained that the proposal aims to strike a balance between consumer protection and operational realities in the telecommunications sector.
Dr. Maida emphasized the telecommunications industry’s critical role in promoting economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital transformation in Nigeria. He noted that while prepaid mobile services have benefited millions, evolving trends now demand policies that uphold consumer rights.
Under the proposed framework, subscribers whose lines are deactivated due to inactivity will have one year to reclaim their unused airtime, provided they can verify ownership. As outlined in the Quality-of-Service Business Rules 2024, prepaid lines with no revenue-generating activity for six months must be deactivated, and after another six months of inactivity, may be recycled.
Maida said the initiative seeks to address issues surrounding unclaimed recharges and to ensure fairness. “The debate continues on whether operators should refund unused airtime or uphold the ‘use it or lose it’ principle. Our goal is to protect consumers while preserving industry efficiency and competitiveness,” he stated.
Also speaking, the NCC’s Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, highlighted the key provisions of the Draft Guidance on Unutilised and Unclaimed Subscribers’ Recharges.
These include:
- A 12-month window for subscribers to reclaim unused airtime after line deactivation, subject to ownership verification.
- Mandatory audits by operators of all churned numbers, with detailed records of unclaimed balances submitted to the NCC.
- A directive that unclaimed airtime must be offered to affected subscribers via services such as voice calls, data plans, and value-added services—not cash refunds.
Whyte emphasized that these measures are designed to enhance consumer protection and regulatory transparency. She also noted that operators are expected to fully comply within 90 days of the framework’s implementation, accompanied by robust consumer education efforts.
The NCC stated that the initiative aligns with international best practices, referencing models in the U.S., EU, and India, where transparency and service-based alternatives are prioritized over monetary reimbursements.
She concluded that the forum allowed for valuable stakeholder input to help refine the final framework, reinforcing the NCC’s commitment to a fair, transparent, and consumer-focused telecom ecosystem.
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