MTN Plans to Charge N4 Per 20 Seconds for Bank USSD Usage
On Oct 21, 2019, Mobile networks inwards Nigeria started charging Nigerians (tax) for using quick banking enterprise USSD curt codes services. Below is samples of text messages sent past times MTN to its subscribers inwards Nigeria inwards regards to the latest taxation.
Yello, every bit requested past times your bank, from Oct 21, nosotros volition kickoff charging y'all straight for USSD access to banking services. Please contact your banking enterprise for to a greater extent than info.Yello, Please banker's bill that from Oct 21, nosotros volition accuse N4 per twenty seconds for USSD access to banking services. Thank you.
And this one;
Yello, Please banker's bill that from Oct 21, nosotros volition accuse N4 per twenty seconds for USSD access to banking services. Thank you.
This is a real bad tidings to Nigerians who are already battling too complaining of recent 5% withdrawal charges that was imposed terminal month.
Struggling Economy + Biting Taxations = Citizens Frustrations.
This proposed USSD taxation should amend halt every bit a dream, too never come upward to reality. Taxing electrochemical cell users for using Quick or Short Codes inwards seeking services of their Network Providers or doing banking enterprise transactions is non exclusively draconian, simply provocative.
Already, regime has said nosotros should locomote cashless too Nigerians are exploring the choice of using Short Codes to create urgent banking transactions. Why too thence discouraging them amongst this obnoxious revenue enhancement on USSD?
The regulation of taxation is hinged on income redistribution. That is to say, taking from where at that topographic point is surplus resources, using it to supply for where at that topographic point is shortage or scarcity. This genuinely does non apply to revenue enhancement on USSD. Reason been that every electrochemical cell user is susceptible to this tax, too non every electrochemical cell user has plenty to redistribute. The rich, including the piteous too vulnerable inwards Nigeria today are telephone users.
It is thence because, the utilisation of electrochemical cell is no longer the exclusive privilege of the haves every bit nosotros were told sometime past times David Mark.
Mobile telephone has larn an integral role of daily life inwards our contemporary world, fifty-fifty beggers on the streets has theirs. Mobile telephone is a profound necessity inwards Nigeria, today. Everyone needs it for their security too security, line organisation transaction too effective communication amongst friends too loved ones. Even official businesses of regime requires that 1 provides his telephone numbers.
Taxation on USSD affects every Nigerian, including those inwards abject penury, the unemployed, the sick too the aged. Having said that, I consider it injurious, harsh too hellish to demand from those who are already economically too socially deprived too exploited to kickoff paying revenue enhancement for the purposes of using Quick Codes to essay services from their Network Providers too Banks.
If this is a thought, it must locomote perished. Latest information from Punch has it that CBN has opposed the planned banking enterprise USSD charges from MTN.
Which trend Nigeria?
