The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to hold a nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, to oppose the recent 50% increase in telecommunication tariffs approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The decision was reached during the ongoing National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting of the NLC, to send a strong warning to the government that workers will resist policies that worsen economic hardship.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a statement titled “50% Telecom Tariff Hike: Another Burden Too Harsh!”, condemned the move, calling it an “assault on workers’ welfare.”
He argued that the tariff increase comes at a time when Nigerians are already struggling with unprecedented economic challenges.
“Telecommunication services are essential for daily communication, work, and access to information. Yet, an average Nigerian worker already spends approximately 10% of their wages on telecom charges.
“With this hike, workers earning the N70,000 minimum wage will see their monthly telecom expenses rise from N7,000 to N10,500—an unsustainable burden,” Ajaero stated.
The protest, backed by other labour and civil society organizations, is expected to take place across major cities, with workers and citizens voicing their opposition to the hike.
