SIM registration flout: Telcos yet to pay N120m fine

The big four telecoms operators in the country are yet to pay the N120million fine slammed on them by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for flouting its order on SIM registration, Daily Trust has learnt. NCC fined MTN, Airtel, Globacom and Etisalat a total of N120.4 million for having incomplete and pre-registered SIM cards in […]

The big four telecoms operators in the country are yet to pay the N120million fine slammed on them by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for flouting its order on SIM registration, Daily Trust has learnt.
NCC fined MTN, Airtel, Globacom and Etisalat a total of N120.4 million for having incomplete and pre-registered SIM cards in their systems early last month.
The telecoms industry regulator had on August 3, 2015, issued a 7-day ultimatum to all the telcos and other network providers to deactivate pre-registered SIM cards and complete registration of improperly registered SIMs on their networks or face sanctions.
A document with the title “Re: Monitoring of Status Compliance with Stakeholders Resolution of August 4, 2015 on Deactivation of Incomplete and Improperly Registered SIM Cards-Notice of Sanction” jointly signed by the head of compliance and monitoring unit, Efosa Idehen and head of legal and regulatory services, Yetunde Akinloye, on behalf of the executive vice chairman of the Commission, Prof Umar Danbatta asked the telcos to variously pay N120.4 million for failing to fully comply with the commission’s directive.
But the telecoms operators are yet to pay the fine as at Friday, a source at NCC told our reporter yesterday.
The NCC source who asked not to be named said the telcos’ refusal to pay might not be unconnected with new Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.
“But we hope they will pay any moment from now because we have just announced how paid should be made to us”, the source said.
NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Mr Tony Ojobo could not be reached on phone yesterday.
A public relations officer of one of operators also confirmed that his company has yet to pay as at Friday.