The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced recently that it would hold a nationwide protest against the proposed 50% telecom tariff hike approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The decision, which was reached during the NLC’s National Administrative Council meeting on yesterday, follows concerns over the economic impact of the increase.
In a statement signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the union condemned the hike as “insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace already burdened by worsening economic hardship.”
Ajaero emphasized that the government’s decision was a blow to citizens already struggling with inflation, fuel price hikes, and rising living costs.
He also announced that the NLC would organize a nationwide rally on February 4, 2025, to express collective opposition to the increase.
He said, “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 hikes in the price of petrol, high cost of food, hike in electricity tariff and general rising inflation.”
The protest is being supported by several civil society organizations, including the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), and the Take It Back Movement.
Ajaero also directed all NLC affiliates to mobilize their members for the protest, saying, “All NLC affiliates and state councils are directed to begin full mobilization in preparation for the February 4, 2025, nationwide protest rally. Willing civil society allies are also encouraged to join the preparation.” He urged Nigerian workers, the informal sector, and the general public to stand in solidarity against what he described as an “unjust policy.”
He warned that failure to address the issue might lead to further actions, including a nationwide boycott of telecom services. He further stressed the importance of Nigerian workers and citizens uniting to prevent further economic oppression, declaring, “We will not relent in our struggle against policies that undermine the welfare and dignity of our people.”