The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to hold a nationwide protest against the telecom tariff hike on Tuesday, February 4.
The NLC leadership revealed this decision during its ongoing National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting.
The protest is intended to warn the government that workers will resist the planned hike, which they believe will exacerbate poverty across the country.
Earlier, on January 22, the NLC rejected the 50 percent telecommunication tariff hike approved by the Federal Government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The NLC argued that the hike, approved at a time when Nigerians are already facing unprecedented economic hardships, is a direct attack on their welfare and an abandonment of the people in favor of corporate interests.
In a statement titled “50% Telecom tariff hike: Another burden too harsh!” NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the approval, stating that the decision is detrimental to Nigerian workers, who are already struggling with economic challenges. He emphasized that the increase would burden workers even further, noting that the average Nigerian worker already spends about 10 percent of their salary on telecom charges. For a worker earning the current minimum wage of N70,000, this increase would mean an extra N3,500 monthly, which is unsustainable.
Ajaero also highlighted the government’s prioritization of corporate profits over the welfare of its citizens, pointing out that while telecom companies saw a 50 percent tariff increase within a month, the minimum wage for workers was only approved after nearly a year of delay, despite rising inflation and cost of living.
He criticized the government’s approach, asking when it would prioritize the needs of the people it is meant to serve. He also called for the National Assembly to hold the executive accountable for policies that harm the majority of citizens.
The NLC has called on the government, the NCC, and the National Assembly to halt the implementation of the hike and engage in reasonable discussions. If the hike is deemed necessary, they advocate for a more humane increase, not a 50 percent rise.
The NLC urged all Nigerian workers and citizens to reject the tariff hike and prepare for collective action, including a possible nationwide boycott of telecom services, to demand the reversal of the hike.
The NLC reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers, vowing to resist policies that deepen poverty and inequality.
