Why NLC shelved planned protest over 50% telecom tariff hike

As the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) prepares for a nationwide protest rally on Tuesday, February 4 to demand reversal of the 50 per cent telecoms tariff hike recently announced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), a group, the Nigeria Citizen Watch for Good Governance (NCWGG), said it would mobilise against the labour union’s planned protest.

The group said it’s fully in support of the NCC’s approval of up to 50 per cent telecoms tariffs hike which, it said, was necessary to ensure the sustainability of the telecommunications sector which plays a critical role in job creation and economic stability.

NCWGG president, Collins Eshiofeh Idowu, in a statement issued on Thursday said the NLC’s actions regarding the telecoms tariff hike are detrimental to Nigeria’s economy.

The group criticised the NLC for failing to consider the challenges faced by telecom operators in recent years, including the potential consequences of rejecting the tariff increase.

“The decision by the NLC to call for a protest was unwarranted, as it did not take into account the considerations that were weighed before the NCC approved the 50% increase,” Idowu said.

“Did the Labour consider the millions of direct and indirect jobs that would be affected if the telecommunications industry were to collapse due to its inability to continue funding operations?

“Did Labour contemplate what it would mean if Nigerians could no longer make calls or use the internet because telecommunications services had failed due to financial unsustainability?

“This is an act of economic sabotage against the Nigerian people and the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“We will mobilise our members across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to counter any protests against the telecom tariff hike.

“We believe this increase will strengthen the telecommunications sector, keep it afloat, and ensure the procurement of advanced telecommunications infrastructure to meet the growing demands for data and other telecom services, while guaranteeing the provision of quality and uninterrupted services,” he said.

This comes as the NLC has proposed a 5 per cent increase in telecom tariff against the 50 per cent approved by the NCC.

The labour union hinged its argument on high cost of living occasioned by fuel subsidy removal, naira devaluation, and increased electricity tariffs that are currently emasculating Nigerians.

The union said it would not go back on its nationwide protest scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 2025 to register its displeasure with the NCC’s approval of a 50 per cent hike in the cost of data and calls.

NLC spokesman, Benson Upah, said on Thursday the rally was to halt “this mindless tariff increase”.

“And if by any chance there has to be an increase at all, 5%, given the fact of our situation that there have been increases across board,” Upah said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.

“But now to say 50%, it is not going to work. Where will the ordinary Nigerians be at the end of the day when we have energy tariff increases?

“The manufacturers are groaning, the middle-class people are groaning. The ordinary Nigerians on the streets can’t even afford to turn on the lights in their sitting rooms,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NLC has directed its branches and affiliates to mobilise members for a nationwide protest rally on Tuesday to demand reversal of the 50 per cent hike in telecommunications tariffs.

The labour union said if the government and NCC fail to heed the cry of the workers, it would escalate actions, including the possibility of a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services and further mass actions which may involve nationwide withdrawal of its service to resist policies that exacerbate poverty and inequality.

The NLC, in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting of its National Administrative Council (NAC), demanded an immediate suspension of the 50 per cent tariff hike.

It urged the Federal Government, the NCC and the National Assembly to engage in meaningful dialogue with critical stakeholders to review the proposed tariff adjustment within the context of Nigeria’s economic realities.

“NAC-in-session totally rejected the 50 percent Telecom Tariff Hike which it considers as too harsh for citizens. It therefore strongly condemns the Nigeria Communications Commission’s decision to approve the increase in telecommunications tariffs,” said the communique signed by NLC president, Joe Ajaero.

“This decision is insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace, who are already burdened by worsening economic hardship foisted on them by Policies of government which was no fault of theirs.

“To express our collective opposition to this arbitrary tariff hike, the NLC will embark on a nationwide mass rally on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

“The rally will serve as a warning on the dangers of imposing such an unfair increase on a struggling population earning a minimum wage of only N70,000; a population that has suffered outrageous hike in the price of petrol, high cost of food, hike in electricity tariff and general rising inflation,” it said.

NLC said it has directed all its affiliates and state councils to begin full mobilisation in preparation for the February 4 nationwide protest rally, urging willing civil society allies to join in mobilising for the protest.

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