Indications have emerged that federal government may this week list names of 18 banks owing almost N250 billion naira to Nigerian telecom operators on Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), and have remained adamant towards settling it for several years.

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reportedly been given the nod to publish the names and approve that telcos withdraw services to them if after two weeks they fail to settle the debts, according to Vangaurd.

Recall that the issue of banks’ multi billionnaira USSD debt to telcos has lingered since 2020, rising from below N40 billion to N57 billion by the end of 2021 and N80 billion in 2022.

But now, the telcos claim the debt has risen above N250 billion and accused the banks of not complying with the repayment plan.

The recent development, cannot be unconnected with a December joint meeting between the two regulators, NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which resolved that the banks pay part of the money by December 31, last year and defray the remaining gradually.

However, Vanguard gathered authoritatively that only four banks complied with the directive, while 18 others are still adamant.

Similarly, when the matter brewed heavily a few years ago, the National Assembly, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Nigerian Communications Commission, waded in and also generated such a gentleman’s agreement, which gave the banks leverage to defray the debts gradually.

However, that did not also happen as the banks allegedly reneged.

A few weeks ago Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), accused the banks of deliberately frustrating any move to resolve the issue and threatened that the only option, since the banks have consistently failed to honour the agreements, would be to withdraw the support that gives the USSD platform life.

National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has kicked off a three-day training program for 388 personnel aimed at enhancing the National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment process across the country.

The training, tagged “Refresher Training of Trainers on NIN Integration to the National Social Register: Technical and hands-on devices and field operations and procedures”, is in collaboration with the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office.

The training is also to equip personnel with the necessary skills to efficiently handle the complexities of enrolment processes

In her address at the event held in Port Harcourt on Monday, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director-general and chief executive officer, NIMC, noted that the initiative aligns with the commission’s overarching goal of achieving secured and great success for the Renewed Hope social initiatives.

Represented by Adedapo Adedoyin, her technical advisor on ICT, the NIMC DG said the event is a pivotal initiative that marks a significant step forward in our mission to enhance and modernize the National Identification Number enrolment process across Nigeria.

She stated, “Today, I am pleased to announce the launch of a comprehensive training program aimed at refreshing the technical and operational skills of the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office State Operations Coordinating Unit and NIMC staff.

“This initiative focuses on practical and field-based exercises, ensuring that our teams are well-equipped to handle the complexities of enrolment processes with precision and efficiency.

“This initiative aligns with our overarching goal of achieving secured and great success for the Renewed Hope social initiatives. Through verified digital identification, we aim to improve the lives of Nigerians by providing them with access to essential services and opportunities that require a reliable and secure identity verification system”.

Coker-Odusote explained that the training program will be conducted in two batches, encompassing four states: Kwara, Nasarawa, Kano, and Rivers. A total of 388 attendees will participate in this initiative, including 225 NASSCO State Operations Coordinating Unit representatives, 35 NIMC facilitators, and 128 State support staff.

She added, “The sessions are meticulously designed to foster knowledge sharing and hands-on experience with NIMC’s enrolment device and software, ensuring that our personnel are adept at using these tools to their full potential.

“By empowering our teams with enhanced skills and practical experience, we are setting the stage for more efficient and accurate NIN enrolment processes across the nation”.

Coker-Odusote further said the training program “is a crucial step toward achieving the World Bank’s Identification for Development Initiative target of enrolling 180 million Nigerians with secure digital IDs.

“By bolstering our technical and operational capabilities, we are ensuring that NIMC is well-positioned to meet and exceed this target, thereby contributing to the global vision of inclusive and accessible digital identification for all”.

The NIMC boss8 called for collaboration between all stakeholders saying, “As we embark on this journey, I urge all participants to embrace this opportunity for growth and development.

“Together, we can build a robust and efficient National Identification System that will serve as the cornerstone for Nigeria’s social and economic progress.”

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State chapter has shut down normal operations of Lagos Television, Eko FM/Radio Lagos and Lagos Traffic Radio in protest over the non-implementation of the N85,000 minimum wage to workers,

NLC, in collaboration with workers of the three broadcast stations under the aegis of Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), on Monday picketed the station.

The workers, few weeks ago, had notified the management of the three stations of their readiness to down tools following the failure of the stations to implement the minimum wage being implemented by the Lagos State Government.

The workers were seen on Monday morning blocking the entrance and exit to the Agidingbi complex of the broadcast stations, displaying placards.

The placards with various inscriptions read, “Oracle is the answer, it’s all we need”, “Pay us minimum wage,” among others.

Speaking with newsmen, Comrade Funmi Sessi, chairman of NLC, said the protest was peaceful to draw the attention of the management to the demands of workers.

“We started in a peaceful manner, and we are going to end it in a peaceful manner. No body is going to push us the wall.

“I assure everybody that we shall be peaceful because we are Lagosians.

“We are here this morning you can see the workers of government in communication departments that is LTV, Eko FM, Traffic Radio, all here to show their displeasure against the injustice that is been meted out to them.

“They work to the best of their abilities and now at the receiving end by being shortchanged. And not receiving the new minimum wage as being approved and agreed by the law set by the Federal Government of Nigeria

“This is an injustice to the set of workers. The managements have been given the mandate to pay the minimum wage has been announced by the Lagos State Government. They are Lagos State workers.

“Since the government has commenced implementation of the N85,000 minimum wage since November, they have never collected the minimum wage.

“The arrears of the three months and the 13th months; they have not been enjoying the benefits. So, why this disparity for these set of workers even in the face of this hardship?

The leadership of their union had engaged the management previously. They gave a-21-day notice to dialogue.

“After several engagements with managements, they gave 14 days, then seven days. They followed due process, yet there was no resolution. Now when they saw that the workers are resolute to fight for their right, they are saying sheathe your sword.”

Comrade Sessi noted that the state governor had been doing a lot by showing compassion on workers, urging him to prevail on the management to do the needful.

“Though, the governor has been doing a lot and showing empathy to workers, we are hereby appealing to him to prevail on the management to do the needful and avoid unnecessary disruption to operations in the interest of the majority.

“We will sustain this struggle until the government listens and takes appropriate action on these demands,” she said.