Tensions are rising as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has firmly rejected the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) approval of a 50% increase in telecom tariffs, calling it an unbearable burden on already struggling Nigerians.
Instead, the union has proposed a modest 5% adjustment, warning that anything beyond this would be met with fierce resistance.
The NLC is not backing down. Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Thursday, NLC spokesman Benson Upah condemned the increase, describing it as yet another attempt to “emasculate” Nigerians with excessive taxation.
“It will come to a point when people can pay, but they won’t pay,” he warned. “The manufacturers are groaning, the middle-class is groaning, and ordinary Nigerians can barely afford to turn on their lights.”
The union argues that such a steep hike will only deepen economic hardship, making essential communication services even more inaccessible.
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Following a National Administrative Council meeting on Wednesday, NLC President Joseph Ajaero issued a scathing communiqué rejecting the tariff hike as “insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace.”
The NLC has now set February 4, 2025, for a nationwide protest to demand a reversal of the decision. Upah assured Nigerians that the demonstrations would begin as peaceful rallies but warned of potential escalations if their demands are ignored.
“Our actions will be reasonable, lawful, and effective,” he said. “This will be a mass action like never before.”
Meanwhile, the NCC has defended the tariff increase, citing rising operational costs and the need to sustain the telecom industry. In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, the commission maintained that the decision aligns with its regulatory responsibilities under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
As February 4 approaches, all eyes are on the government and the NLC. Will the protest force a reconsideration of the tariff hike, or will Nigerians have to bear yet another cost increase in an already difficult economy?