The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has firmly rejected the 50 per cent telecommunications tariff hike recently approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), proposing a more moderate 5 per cent increase instead. The labour union also reiterated its commitment to staging a nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in opposition to the tariff adjustment.
The NLC’s stance was made clear by its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday. He strongly criticized the government’s decision, warning that the continued imposition of burdensome taxes on Nigerians could lead to widespread non-compliance.
“They keep on emasculating us through stupid taxes. It will come to a point when people can pay, but they won’t pay,” Upah remarked. “This really is to halt this mindless tariff increase. And if by any chance there has to be an increase at all, five per cent would be more reasonable given the current economic situation, where price increases have become the norm across all sectors.”
Expressing further discontent, Upah highlighted the financial strain that excessive tariffs impose on Nigerians, particularly those in the manufacturing sector, middle-class earners, and low-income citizens.
“The manufacturers are groaning, the middle-class people are groaning. The ordinary Nigerians on the streets can’t even afford to turn on the lights in their sitting rooms,” he said. “When taxes are low, more people comply, but when you impose high taxes, the situation worsens for everyone.”
NLC Labels Tariff Hike “Insensitive”
The labour union’s rejection of the tariff hike was formalized in a communiqué issued on Wednesday by NLC President Joseph Ajaero after the union’s National Administrative Council meeting. Ajaero described the NCC’s decision as “insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace.”
The NLC argued that the increase would only exacerbate the financial difficulties faced by citizens, many of whom are already struggling with the rising cost of living. As a result, the union announced it would proceed with a nationwide protest on February 4 to demonstrate against the policy.
“We will start with peaceful rallies, and if those do not yield results, we will escalate our actions,” Upah stated. “Our actions will be reasonable and within the ambit of the law. However, they will be effective, and there will be mass actions—the type we probably haven’t seen before.”
NCC Defends Tariff Increase
The NCC had, on January 20, announced its approval of a 50 per cent tariff increase for telecom operators, citing rising operational costs and the need to ensure the sustainability of the industry.
In a statement signed by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, the regulatory body defended its decision, stating that it aligns with its responsibilities under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
Despite this justification, the NLC insists that the government must reconsider the increase and adopt a more measured approach that takes into account the financial realities of ordinary Nigerians. With the February 4 protest looming, the standoff between the labour union and regulatory authorities appears far from over.
