By Yahaya Umar, Abuja
Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has fixed February 4, 2025 to embark on a nationwide protest against recent approval by Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, for telecommunications operators in the country to effect 50% tariff hike.
The NLC, made the declaration in a statement, yesterday.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the NCC had on January 20, 2025, given the approval on tariff hike.
Giving rationale for the proposed nationwide strike the NLC statement quoted President of the congress, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, as saying that “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 NLC had last week described the increment as a burden on Nigerians.
In this vein, Organised Labour gave the breakdown of the news tariff as follows: “N16.50 per minute, calls costs increased from N11 per minute. N6 per message, SMS charges increased from N4 per message. N431.25 per IGB data bundle” IGB data bundle increased from N287.50.
Also, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, had earlier vowed to drag the federal government and telcos to court over the 50% telecoms service tariff hike.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government approved a 50% increase after operators initially requested a 100% increase.
According to the government, the hike was aimed at revitalising the telecoms sector, which contributes about 14% to Nigeria’s economy.
