Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to organise a nationwide mass rally on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in response to the recent approval of a 50 percent increase in telecom tariffs by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Gatekeepers News reports that This decision has faced significant opposition from various segments of the population, including the NLC, which is mobilizing to protest against the increase. During the ongoing National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting, the NLC reached an agreement to proceed with the nationwide protest, aiming to convey a strong message to the government regarding the adverse effects of the proposed tariff hike on the workforce and the general populace.
The NLC has expressed that this increase, occurring at a time of severe economic hardship for Nigerian workers, represents a direct threat to their welfare and disproportionately benefits corporate interests. The labor union had previously voiced its rejection of the tariff hike on January 22, underscoring the need to address the growing concerns over the impact of such financial burdens on the poverty levels faced by citizens across the country.
“This decision, coming at a time when Nigerian workers and the masses are grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, is a clear assault on their welfare and an abandonment of the people to corporate fat cats,” the statement by NLC president, Joe Ajaero partly reads.
Earlier, Nigerians under the aegis of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers vowed to drag the Nigerian government and telcos to court over the 50 percent telecoms service tariff hike.
Meanwhile, the government had repeatedly justified the latest telecom tariff hike on rising inflation which stood at 34.80 percent in December.
