NEWS
USSD Debts: Telcos Petition NCC, to Disconnect Services Q1 2023
The mounting debts from the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) has seen telecommunication companies petition the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for approval to suspend it.
Recall that Deposit Money Banks (DMB) and the telcos have been having hard conversations on the debt accrued from Short Message Services (SMS) and USSD since 2019.
It required the intervention of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who petitioned the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele to cool the move by the telcos to suspend the USSD in March 2021.
It is becoming evident that the several meeting between the DMBs, the NCC, the CBN and telcos have not yielded any headway, with the debt climbing from N32bn to about 80bn over the period.
The consequence is that the telcos having been frustrated by the antics of the DMBs now require the approval of the NCC to take their destiny into their hands by suspending the NSSD, as through the DMBs and offering the services directly to customers.
The Punch reports that quotes the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, as saying that the operators had sought regulatory approval to implement partial removal of the USSD services.
He said, “We have sought regulatory approval to pursue partial removal. We would start disconnecting those who owe us in batches, a highest debtor scenario. We don’t know as regards the timing because we are required to get approval before acting. But we would certainly commence the process once it is approved. The amount is over N80bn, it is not yet up to N90bn, but it is up to that.”
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was recently suspended from the Senate, has refuted reports suggesting she apologised over the dispute that led to her suspension.
The Kogi Central lawmaker described the claims as false and insisted she remains resolute in her fight for justice.
In a statement on Monday, Akpoti-Uduaghan reaffirmed her position, vowing not to succumb to intimidation.
READ MORE: Kogi Central Constituents Submit Recall Petition Against Sen. Natasha
“I, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stand firm in my resolve to never apologise for speaking my truth. The desperation to silence me is palpable, but I will not be intimidated,” she declared.
She alleged that her suspension was politically motivated and accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of corruption.
“The games being played in full view of the Nigerian people will be exposed, and the corrupt individuals who have hijacked our institutions will be held accountable,” she added.
Recall that some constituents from Kogi Central Senatorial District have taken steps to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan from office.
On Monday, a petition seeking her removal was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
The document, titled ‘Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence’, was presented by Charity Ijese and received by INEC Secretary, Rose Anthony.
The petitioners argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan, who secured her Senate seat through an Appeal Court ruling in October 2023, no longer represents their interests effectively.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended for alleged violations of Senate rules, has taken her case to the international stage, addressing the United Nations Inter-parliamentary conference in New York.
At the forum, she accused Akpabio of victimisation, sexual harassment, and abuse of office, further fueling the controversy surrounding her suspension.
Despite the challenges, she remains defiant, pledging to continue advocating for justice and gender equality.
“I will continue to fight for the rights of Nigerian women and ensure that our voices are heard,” she stated.
A group of constituents from Kogi Central Senatorial District has formally submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking the recall of their representative, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The petition, presented on Monday by Charity Ijese on behalf of the constituents, was received by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Anthony, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Titled “Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence,” the document outlines allegations of misconduct against the senator.
READ ALSO: Akpabio vs Natasha: Compliments Can Be Misconstrued As Harassment – Ex- Senator
According to the petitioners, the recall effort is in line with Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and INEC’s established regulations.
They accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of engaging in “gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a pattern of deceitful behavior.”
“This petition arises from our loss of confidence in the Senator,” the constituents stated. “Her actions have not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central but have also tarnished the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and our nation’s democratic institutions.”
The petitioners claimed to have gathered signatures from more than half of the registered voters in Kogi Central, calling on INEC to begin the recall process and officially declare her seat vacant.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was declared the winner of her senatorial seat by an Appeal Court ruling in October 2023, was recently suspended from the Senate for six months for gross misconduct.
Her suspension followed a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of sexual harassment and abuse of office.
As of now, INEC has not issued a response regarding the petition.
Security operatives have recaptured five out of the twelve inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Koton-Karfe, Kogi State, following a security breach in the early hours of Monday.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesperson, Abubakar Umar, confirmed the incident in a statement, revealing that the inmates exploited a weakness in the facility’s padlocks to orchestrate their escape.
Upon receiving reports of the breakout, the Acting Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, promptly mobilized a coordinated response alongside security agencies and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Kogi State.
READ MORE: 12 Inmates Escape Kogi Prison, Authorities Launch Manhunt
Officials were deployed to restore order, secure the facility, and track down the fleeing inmates.
“As of this moment, five of the fleeing inmates have been recaptured, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining inmates and bring them to justice,” the statement read.
In response to the incident, the NCoS has launched an investigation to determine how the escape happened. A nationwide security audit of correctional facilities is also underway to prevent similar occurrences.
“The Acting Controller General of Corrections has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape. Additionally, a security audit is being conducted across all correctional facilities nationwide to prevent future occurrences,” the statement added.
The NCoS assured the public that efforts are being intensified to strengthen security across correctional centres.
It also urged citizens to report any suspicious movements that could help in apprehending the remaining fugitives.
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