Breaking: NLC Declares Nationwide Protest, Reason, Date Emerge

• The NLC has announced its plan to mobilise and protest against the approved 50% tariff hike in the telecommunication sector
• The union said the protest, billed for Tuesday, February 4, 2025, was to register its rejection of the high rates
• The NLC described the approval of the increase as "a clear assault on Nigerians" amid the hardship facing the citizens

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced its intention to hold a nationwide protest against the recently approved 50% telecoms tariff hike.

The protest is scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 2025, following a meeting of the NLC's national administrative council on Wednesday, January 29.

According to Vanguard, the protest was to send a note of warning to the government that Nigerian workers would not welcome the hike, citing the high level of poverty across the country.

NLC rejects 50% tariff hike on telecom

In January, the NLC rejected the 50% tariff increase in telecommunications, which the federal government approved through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Read also

50% tariff hike: Subscribers open up on next line of action after failing to reach truce with NCC

The labour union maintained that the tariff hike was approved while its members and the Nigerian populace were grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, describing it as "a clear assault and an abandonment of the people's concerns."

The NLC, in a statement titled '50% Telecom tariff hike: Another burden too harsh!' and signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, condemned the telecom rates increase put forward by the government.

How telecom tariff hike will affect Nigerians

According to the NLC, the services in the telecom sector are essential to human daily communication, access to information and work.

In its statement, the union lamented that average Nigerian workers already spent approximately 10% of wages on telecom charges.

“For a worker earning the current minimum wage of N70,000, this means an increase from N7,000 to a staggering N10,500 per month or 15 per cent of his salary, an unsustainable cost."

Read also

LCCI speaks on how hike on call, data tariffs will impact low-income Nigerians

Why NLC is fighting Tinubu

The NLC has been at loggerheads with the federal government since President Bola Tinubu assumed power in 2023.

On his first day, the Nigerian leader announced the removal of the fuel subsidy and the subsequent floating of the naira, sparking concerns.

The two economic policies of President Tinubu have led to sudden increases in the cost of basic amenities and food, affecting many Nigerians harshly.

The government, on its part, increased the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 but some believe this is not enough to ease the suffering.

NLC kicks against Tinubu's policy on power

Legit.ng also previously reported that Tinubu's power minister was accused of implementing a policy with the 'highest form of 419'.

Ajaero made the allegation while condemning the electricity policy of migration and distribution of power supply to Band A, B, C, D and E.

Read also

NLC mentions Tinubu's minister making "highest level of 419"

The union leader maintained that the policy was discriminatory and it was concocted to make money unnecessarily for those ruling the land.

Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng