BY IFEANYI UWAGWU
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday, strongly condemned the sudden 50 percent increase in telecommunications tariffs and directed its members and Nigerians to boycott telecommunications services from today, Thursday, February 13, 2025, following the implementation of the 50 percent telecoms hike.
NLC stated that the boycott is expected to kick-off today between 11am and 2pm till the end of February, 2025.
This position was made clear in a communique signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero, and Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, after the NLC’s CWC meeting held in Lokoja, Kogi State, where the labour union also deliberated on the proposed Tax Reform Bills and the roll-out of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses in the North Central states.
The CWC of the NLC described the insistence on the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike by telcos as a demonstration of ‘regulatory capture.’
To this end, NLC CWC called for the complete reversal of the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike.
“The CWC received with grave concern news that telecommunications companies have commenced the implementation of a 50 per cent tariff hike despite an earlier agreement reached with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
It was 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.
“The CWC strongly condemns this action by the telecommunications companies, describing it 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 Nigerian people.
“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.
This unwarranted and premature tariff hike demands an immediate response from our collective resolve since the government clearly favours the rich against the people.
“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, AIRTEL, and GLO daily between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM until the end of February 2025.”
Recall that on Tuesday, MTN began the implementation of the 50 percent telecom tariff hike.
This follows the 50 percent telecom tariff hike approval granted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on January 20, 2025.
