The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the 50% increase in telecom tariffs approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), insisting that only a 5% hike is reasonable. The labor union has also vowed to proceed with a nationwide protest on February 4, 2025, to express its opposition to the tariff adjustment.
NLC spokesperson Benson Upah made the union’s position clear during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Thursday.
“They keep on emasculating us through stupid taxes. It will come to a point when people can pay but they won’t pay. This really is to halt this mindless tariff increase. And if by any chance there has to be an increase at all, 5%, given the fact of our situation that there have been increases across the board.
“But now to say 50%, it is not going to work. Where will the ordinary Nigerians be at the end of the day when we have energy tariff increases?” he said.
The labor union noted that the decision to push ahead with the protest was necessary to protect Nigerians, who are already struggling with the high cost of living. Upah explained that various sectors, including manufacturers and the middle class, are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with rising expenses.
“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. When taxes are low, more people than when you have high taxes,” he added.
