The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on workers to suspend the use of telecoms services beginning Thursday in protest against the take-off of the 50% tariff hike approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The directive followed the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in Lokoja, Kogi State, where labor leaders strongly condemned the tariff hike, accusing telecoms operators of violating an existing agreement with the Federal Government (FG) and the NCC.
“We received with grave concern the news that telecommunications companies have commenced the implementation of a 50% tariff hike today, despite an earlier agreement reached with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),” the CWC stated.
The NLC has directed all State Councils to commence immediate sensitization and mobilization of their members and the general public within their jurisdictions. All NLC Affiliate Unions have been requested to mobilise their members across the country to observe “electronic silence” during the designated hours. The NLC implored all of its civil society allies and other interested stakeholders to join in making this action effective.
NLC: Telecoms price increase is ‘a betrayal of trust’
The NLC recalled that “a 10-man committee had been constituted to deliberate on the matter within two weeks and report back before any final decision would be made on the new telecom tariff structure.”
Describing the telecoms operators’ action as “a betrayal of trust, an affront to the principles of negotiation, and a direct slap on the government and its institutions and a disdain for the Nigerian people,” the CWC warned that workers and citizens would resist the telecoms price increase.
The NLC further states that “CWC-in-session believes that this is a further demonstration of regulatory capture and impotence in the midst of corporate onslaught and the continuing abandonment of workers and masses to corporate fat cats by the government.”
Resolutions and Protest Plan
To push back against the tariff hike, the NLC outlined the following resolutions:
• The CWC demands an immediate reversal of the tariff hike, which took effect today, and insists that the companies revert to the previous tariff until the committee completes its deliberations and reaches a conclusive agreement.
As a first step in resisting this arbitrary tariff hike, the CWC has directed that, beginning Thursday, February 13, 2025, Nigerian workers and other willing citizens shall boycott the services of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, and Glo daily between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM until the end of February 2025.
• As a first step in resisting this arbitrary tariff hike, the CWC has directed that, beginning Thursday, February 13, 2025, Nigerian workers and other willing citizens shall boycott the services of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, and Glo daily between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm until the end of February 2025.
• Workers and citizens are urged to suspend the purchase of data from these operators.
• We also demand the repatriation of all funds siphoned out of the country by these telecom operators.
• If the telecommunications companies fail to revert to the old tariff by the end of February 2025, a total shutdown of their operations nationwide will commence from March
Meanwhile, MTN has increased the price of its data plans from ₦2,000 to ₦6,000, in line with the 50% tariff hike approved in January by NCC.
The NLC is demanding an immediate reversal of the tariff hike and insists that the companies revert to the previous tariff until the committee completes its deliberations.
The NLC has threatened to initiate a total shutdown of the telecom operators’ operations nationwide starting March 1, 2025, if their demands are not met. The CWC also demanded the repatriation of all funds siphoned out of the country by these companies.
The NLC has directed all State Councils to commence immediate sensitisation and mobilisation of their members and the general public within their jurisdictions. All NLC Affiliate Unions have been requested to mobilise their members across the country to observe “electronic silence” during the designated hours. The NLC implored all of its civil society allies and other interested stakeholders to join in making this action effective.
The CWC also reviewed the ongoing discussions around the Tax Reform Bills being considered by the government. While acknowledging the need for fiscal reforms, the Congress insists that any tax policies must be designed to alleviate the burdens on Nigerian workers and not worsen the existing economic hardship. The NLC shall engage with relevant authorities to ensure that tax reforms are fair, equitable, and worker-friendly.
The Nigeria Labour Congress stated that it remains committed to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers and citizens. The CWC calls on all Nigerians to unite in this struggle against exploitative economic policies and to actively participate in the outlined actions to demand justice and fairness in telecommunications, taxation, and transportation policies.
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