NLC Urges Telecom Subscribers to Prepare for Nationwide Boycott Over Tariff Hike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on telecom subscribers to get ready for a nationwide boycott in response to the recent tariff hike, citing concerns over rising costs and economic hardship.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on Nigerians to get ready for a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services in reaction to the Federal Government’s recent decision to approve a 50% increase in telecom tariffs.

In a statement made on Wednesday, NLC President Joe Ajaero called the tariff increase a “grave injustice” to citizens who are already facing economic difficulties.

He expressed disapproval of the timing for the increase, pointing out that rising inflation and decreasing purchasing power are impacting millions of Nigerians.

Ajaero highlighted that telecommunication services are now an essential part of daily life, noting that the typical Nigerian worker allocates around 10% of their income to telecom expenses. He urged the government to reassess the increase in costs and offer some relief to citizens.

However, telecommunication companies justified the tariff adjustment by asserting that it was essential for ensuring the sector’s sustainability and enhancing services for subscribers.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) also encouraged telecommunications companies to focus on improving service quality after the tariff approval.

He expressed that the Nigeria Labour Congress strongly condemns the Federal Government’s recent approval, via the Nigerian Communications Commission, of a 50 percent hike in telecommunication tariffs. This decision is seen as a significant blow to workers and citizens who are already enduring severe economic difficulties, representing an abandonment of their welfare for corporate interests.

Telecommunication services are crucial for everyday communication, work, and information access. However, the typical Nigerian worker already allocates about 10% of their income to telecom expenses. For someone earning the current minimum wage of N70,000 per month, this would mean a rise in costs from N7,000 to an overwhelming N10,500 monthly — equivalent to 15% of their salary — which is unsustainable.

The NLC president expressed disapproval of the government for swiftly approving the tariff within a month, yet taking almost a year to enact the recently updated minimum wage.

He also contended that this disparity highlights the government’s favoritism towards corporate interests at the expense of its citizens’ welfare.

Ajaero remarked, “This increase demonstrates the government’s evident preference for corporate profits over the well-being of its citizens. It’s startling that while a 50 percent tariff hike for telecom companies was approved in just one month, it took almost a year to sanction the recent minimum wage raise for workers, even as inflation and rising living costs diminish purchasing power.”

This clear disparity highlights a troubling reality: the government seems more attuned to the interests of wealthy corporations than to the needs of its workers and citizens.

We must ask: When will the government fulfill its promise to protect its citizens? When will the National Assembly take responsibility and hold the executive accountable for policies that clearly harm the majority’s welfare? When can ordinary Nigerians look forward to relief from their struggles?

However, the NLC president encouraged Nigerians to oppose the tariff increase and get ready for collective action. This could include a widespread boycott of telecommunication services aimed at forcing a reversal of the hike.

The NLC does not object to a tariff review; however, it disagrees with the approved rate of increase. We urge the government, NCC, and National Assembly to halt this ill-considered hike’s implementation so we can engage in meaningful discussions about it. If these talks conclude that an increase is necessary, we should pursue a more reasonable adjustment rather than this 50 percent raise.

The NLC urges all Nigerian workers and citizens to oppose this unwarranted tariff increase. We encourage everyone to get ready for unified action, potentially including a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services, in order to force the reversal of this harsh hike.

“Our dignity, rights, and survival as a people are at stake. The Nigeria Labour Congress stands firm in safeguarding the interests of Nigerian workers and the masses. We refuse to let policies deepen poverty and inequality fall on the shoulders of our people. Together, we will strive to combat this injustice and insist that the government places citizens’ needs above those of corporations,” declared the union.