The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will organise a nationwide rally to protest the approval of a 50 percent hike in telecommunication tariff by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on February 4.
The NLC announced this in a communiqué issued at the end of Wednesday’s emergency meeting convened by its National Administrative Council (NAC) and signed by the President, Joe Ajaero, in Abuja.
The NCC on January approved a 50 percent tariff hike for telecommunication services in the country.
This was however lower than the 100 percent tariff increase requested by the operators in response to the prevailing market conditions.
In the communiqué, NLC said the rally would serve as a warning on the dangers of imposing such an unfair increase on a struggling population earning a minimum wage of only ₦70,000, suffering outrageous hikes in the price of petrol, high cost of food, hike in electricity tariff and rising inflation.
The union directed its affiliates and state councils to begin full mobilisation in preparation for the rally.
It also urged willing civil society allies to join the preparation.
The NLC demanded an immediate suspension of the tariff hike.
The communiqué read: “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 Policies of government which was no fault of theirs.
“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.”