By Emmanuel Nduka
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a nationwide protest scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in response to the recent approval of a 50% increase in telecom tariffs by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The decision followed an emergency meeting of the NLC’s National Administrative Council (NAC) in Abuja, the Nigerian capital on Wednesday.
The union sharply criticized the tariff hike, calling it “insensitive and unjustifiable.” According to the NLC, the increase adds unnecessary financial strain on Nigerian workers and the general public, who are already burdened by rising inflation, food prices, higher electricity tariffs, and the aftereffects of the petrol subsidy removal.
The NLC had previously rejected the NCC’s decision, demanding its immediate suspension. The union warned that Nigerian workers earning a minimum wage of ₦70,000 cannot bear the additional cost, describing the hike as a “direct assault” on the population.
Despite the NLC’s calls for dialogue, the government has not yet addressed their concerns, prompting the decision to mobilize for a mass protest.
In a statement signed by NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero, the congress directed all its affiliates and state councils to begin mobilizing for the February 4 rally.
The union also warned that if the government fails to reverse the tariff increase, they may escalate their actions, including a possible nationwide telecom boycott and broader industrial strikes.
The NLC’s official communique stated: “The NAC-in-session totally rejected the 50% Telecom Tariff Hike, deeming it too harsh for citizens. To express our collective opposition to this arbitrary tariff increase, we will hold a nationwide mass rally on February 4, 2025. This rally will serve as a warning against imposing such an unfair hike on a population already grappling with soaring costs of living.”
The congress further urged all Nigerian workers, the informal sector, and civil society groups to stand in solidarity, demanding an immediate suspension of the tariff hike and calling for urgent dialogue with relevant stakeholders to review the decision.
If these demands are not met, the NLC warns that it will escalate its actions, including the possibility of a nationwide telecom services boycott and other widespread protests to resist policies that worsen poverty and inequality.
