The Nigeria Labour Congress has refused to back-down from the planned nationwide protest against the proposed 50 per cent telecoms tariff hike.
NLC, on Wednesday, declared it would embark on protest on February 4 against the announcement by the Nigerian Communications Commission allowing telecommunications network providers to adjust their rates by 50 per cent.
In a communiqué signed by Joe Ajaero, the national president of NLC, the decision was taken at the National Administrative Council meeting on January 29.
Similarly, Civil Society Organisations have pledged their support for the nationwide protest.
Failure to reverse the hike, Ajaero warned, might result in a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services.
Endorsing the rally, the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, National Civil Society Council of Nigeria and the Take It Back Movement condemned the tariff hike and assured that they would participate in the protests.
The Federal Government had approved a 50 per cent increase though the telecom operators requested a 100 per cent increase.
In response to the development, the NLC rejected the hike describing it as insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace already burdened by the worsening economic hardship.
Ajaero said,
“After extensive discussions, the following resolutions were reached: NAC-in-session totally rejected the 50 per cent 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.
“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 the policies of the government which was no fault of theirs.”
He noted that the union would embark on a nationwide protest on February 4 to warn against the decision of the government.
Ajaero 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.”
Ajaero directed all NLC affiliates to mobilise their members for the rally.
He said,
“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.
“The congress calls on all Nigerian workers, the informal sector, and the general public to stand in solidarity against this unjust policy.”
He demanded an immediate suspension of the 50 per cent tariff hike, calling on the Federal Government to dialogue with stakeholders.
The labour leader warned that failure to do this might result in a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services.
He stated,
“NAC-in-session demands an immediate suspension of the 50 per cent tariff hike. It calls on the Federal Government, the Nigeria Communication Commission and the National Assembly to engage in meaningful dialogue with critical stakeholders to review the proposed tariff adjustment within the context of the economic realities facing Nigerians.
“Should these not be heeded, the Nigeria Labour Congress will escalate its actions, including the possibility of a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services and further mass actions which may involve nationwide withdrawal of our service to resist policies that exacerbate poverty and inequality.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress remains committed to protecting the interests of Nigerian workers and citizens against exploitative economic policies. We will not relent in our struggle against policies that undermine the welfare and dignity of our people.
‘’Nigerian workers and citizens must unite and take action to prevent further economic oppression. We must resist any policy that prioritizes corporate profits over the well-being of the people.”
Commenting on the planned protest, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the executive director of CISLAC, said the organisation will always side with the people and “support any action to bring down these prices and reduce the hardship Nigerians are facing.”
He added,
“CISLAC will always side with the people, will always support the Nigerian people, as against the multinational corporations that are extorting Nigerians, and their collaborators within the government.
‘’We will always uphold efforts at ensuring that the welfare of Nigerians and the living conditions of Nigerians improve. Whatever the position the NLC has taken, CISLAC will support any action that is going to help the masses and is going to bring down the prices for Nigerians that are suffering.’’
According to Punch report, Damilare Adenola, the director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, mentioned that the group would participate in the nationwide protests.
“I can say that we instigated the NLC to take action. So, for us to have done that implies that we are part and parcel of the action. We stand for the reversal of the tariff hike, unequivocally. We are not asking for a reduction,” Adenola stated.
Blessing Akinlosotu, the executive director of the NCSCN, said the declaration of the nationwide protest by organised labour showed that Nigerians were unhappy with the tariff hike.
He added that the council would picket the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council office.
“We have submitted a letter officially to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council office, and we let them understand that from the Civil Society Council that we lead, over 20 different organisations have written to the council to express displeasure over the frivolous and high increment without proper consultation.
“We wrote them officially today, and in the letter, it was there that we will start a protest on Monday. So, I was not even aware of the NLC calling for a protest. But we have notified them officially of picketing their office on Monday morning.
“The economy is not friendly to the poor masses, fuel has been increased, electricity tariff has been increased, which is extremely high on Nigerians. And now, to reach out to loved ones will be extremely difficult. That is the height of suffocation,’’ he complained.
However, the telecommunications companies and subscribers have strongly opposed the NLC over for its planned protest.
Earlier, Engineer Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), said that the telecoms tariff hike is justified as “prices of everything have gone up. We are in the same economic situation. We all face the same economic headwinds. We all procure things from the same market.
“And ours have become a lot more difficult because we provide services across the country. Logistics alone is a major problem. We must deliver services 24/7; there are challenges of access, security, high cost of transportation, and all of the external factors that we confront including inflation, forex and more. And this is the first time telecoms tariff will be adjusted in the last 12 years. No other sector has endured like the telecoms.”
