Iyunade Grace
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecom operators to compensate subscribers for poor network service starting April 2026. This move aims to address the long-standing issue of subpar network quality that has plagued Nigerian telecom users.
The compensation will be calculated based on your average spending patterns and presence in areas with service failures. This means that if you’ve experienced poor network quality in an affected Local Government Area, you might be eligible for airtime credits.
To qualify, you must have made at least one outgoing revenue-generating event (billed call, SMS, or data session) during the relevant period. The NCC has put in place a framework to ensure that subscribers are fairly compensated for the inconvenience caused by poor network service.
The NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Adedeji Olarenwaju, emphasized that the commission is committed to ensuring that subscribers receive the quality of service they deserve. He noted that the compensation directive is part of the commission’s efforts to protect consumers’ rights.
Operators found breaching Quality of Service (QoS) Key Performance Indicators will compensate affected users directly within specified timelines. This means that telecom companies will be held accountable for their service delivery.
Tower companies will also reinvest fines into infrastructure upgrades to improve network quality. This is expected to lead to significant improvements in network quality across the country.
The NCC has urged subscribers to report instances of poor network service to their service providers or the commission. This will help to identify areas that require improvement and ensure that operators are held accountable.
