The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to embark on a nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, to oppose the recent 50% increase in telecommunication tariffs approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

This decision was reached during the ongoing National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting of the NLC, where members agreed that the protest was necessary to send a strong message to the government. The NLC argues that the tariff hike will significantly worsen the economic hardships already faced by Nigerian workers and citizens.

The Federal Government, through the NCC, had approved the 50% increase in mobile network tariffs, a move that has been met with widespread condemnation. On January 22, the NLC had previously rejected the hike, stating that it was a “clear assault on the welfare of workers and an abandonment of the people to corporate fat cats.”

In a strongly worded statement titled “50% Telecom Tariff Hike: Another Burden Too Harsh!” NLC President, Joe Ajaero, criticized the government’s decision, highlighting the impact on workers.

“Telecommunication services are essential for daily communication, work, and access to information. Yet, an average Nigerian worker already spends approximately 10 percent of their wages on telecom charges. With this increase, a worker earning the minimum wage of N70,000 will see telecom expenses rise from N7,000 to N10,500 per month, consuming 15% of their salary. This cost is unsustainable,” Ajaero stated.

The planned protest aims to pressure the government to reverse the decision and consider the economic strain on Nigerians. The NLC has urged workers and the general public to join the demonstration, warning that failure to resist such policies would lead to further financial hardships.

As February 4 approaches, all eyes will be on the NLC and the Federal Government’s response to the growing discontent surrounding the telecom tariff hike.