The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide protest scheduled for 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, as the union seeks to send a strong message to the government against policies that worsen economic hardship.
In a statement titled “50% Telecom Tariff Hike: Another Burden Too Harsh!”*, NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the increase, describing it as an assault on workers’ welfare.
He argued that the hike comes at a time when Nigerians are grappling with severe economic challenges, stating that telecommunication services are essential for communication, work, and access to information.
Ajaero stated, “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 added.
The protest, which will be supported by other labour and civil society organizations, is expected to take place across major cities, with workers and citizens voicing their opposition to the tariff increase.
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