Nigerian Workers Mobilize for Nationwide Protest Against 50% Telecom Tariff Hike

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has officially declared a nationwide protest set for **February 4, 2025**, in response to the recent approval of a **50% increase** in telecommunications tariffs by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This decision was made during a meeting of the NLC's National Administrative Council on January 29, where the union condemned the tariff hike as "insensitive" and "unjustifiable," particularly given the current economic challenges faced by many Nigerians.

The NLC's president, Joe Ajaero, emphasized that this increase represents a direct assault on the welfare of workers and the general populace, who are already grappling with soaring prices for essential goods and services. He stated, “This decision is insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct attack on Nigerian workers and the general populace, who are already burdened by worsening economic hardship”.

The protest aims to rally public support against what the NLC describes as an arbitrary tariff hike that disproportionately affects citizens earning a minimum wage of only **₦70,000**. Ajaero highlighted that many Nigerians are already struggling with rising costs of living, including fuel prices and electricity tariffs. The planned demonstration serves as a warning against imposing such financial burdens on a population already under strain .

In addition to mobilizing its members for the protest, the NLC has called on civil society organizations to join their efforts. They demand an immediate suspension of the tariff hike and urge the government to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders to reassess the proposed adjustments in light of economic realities . 

Should their demands go unheeded, Ajaero warned that further actions could include a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services, escalating their resistance against policies perceived as exacerbating poverty and inequality. The NLC's stance reflects a broader commitment to protecting the interests of Nigerian workers against exploitative economic policies that prioritize corporate profits over citizens' welfare .

As preparations for the protest intensify, all NLC affiliates have been directed to mobilize their members. The union is calling on all Nigerian workers and citizens to stand in solidarity against what they view as an unjust policy that threatens their livelihoods.