The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has disclosed that commercial banks have cleared the nearly N300 billion debt owed telecom operators for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services.
ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo confirmed this during an official visit to the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Idris Olorunnimbe.
He explained that the debt debacle that had lingered over four years was resolved through the intervention of the NCC under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, adding that the clearing of the debt brought to a close, years of accusations and counter-accusations between the banks and telecom operators.
While commending the leadership of the NCC for their recent interventions including the approval of 50 per cent tariff increase last year, Adebayo said the Commission has steered the ship of the telecom sector through one of its most delicate periods.
Adebayo also called for intervention in the area of “multiple and excessive” taxes and levies being charged by states.
Responding, the NCC Chairman, Olurunnimbe, said the NCC would do everything to ensure the sustainability of the telecom industry.
