The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a nationwide protest against the recent 50% increase in telecommunication tariffs, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on January 20, 2025.
The protest is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, as stated in a communiqué issued after the NLC’s National Administrative Council meeting held on Wednesday.
The NCC’s approval for telecom companies to increase service charges has sparked widespread outrage among Nigerians, with the NLC describing the hike as “anti-people and unacceptable.”
In a strong reaction, the labour union vowed to mobilize workers and citizens nationwide to resist the new tariffs, insisting that the policy would further burden Nigerians already grappling with economic hardships.
“The NLC stands firmly against this arbitrary increase in telecom tariffs, which will negatively impact millions of Nigerians. We call on the government to reverse this decision immediately, or we will take necessary action to defend the interests of the people,” the communiqué stated.
The labour union also called on civil society groups, students, and all concerned Nigerians to join the protest to demand a reversal of the tariff hike.
Meanwhile, telecom operators are yet to respond to the growing public backlash, while the NCC insisted that the tariff adjustment is necessary due to rising operational costs in the telecom sector.
