By Faridat Blessing
In a significant victory for Nigerian consumers, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has successfully pressured the Federal Government to reduce the proposed 50% telecommunications tariff hike to 35%. This development follows a meeting between government representatives and the NLC at the office of the National Security Adviser on Friday, February 21, 2025.
The NLC had strongly condemned the initial tariff hike, describing it as a "betrayal of trust" and a "direct slap on the government and its institutions." The congress had demanded an immediate reversal of the hike, threatening a total shutdown of telecommunications operations nationwide if the companies failed to comply.
In a communique issued after their Central Working Committee meeting, the NLC directed workers and citizens to boycott the services of major telecom providers, including MTN, Airtel, and Glo, daily between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM until the end of February 2025. The communique also urged citizens to suspend the purchase of data from these companies, citing their exploitative practices.
Furthermore, the NLC had vowed to embark on a nationwide strike from March 1, 2025, if the telecommunications companies failed to revert to the old tariff by the end of February 2025. However, with the government's decision to reduce the tariff hike, it remains to be seen if the strike will still go ahead.
The NLC has welcomed the government's decision to reduce the tariff hike, but remains committed to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers and citizens. The congress has also called on Nigerians to unite in the struggle against exploitative economic policies and to demand justice and fairness in telecommunications, taxation, and transportation policies.
An official communique announcing the tariff reduction is expected to be released soon. The reduction is a significant win for Nigerian consumers, who had expressed outrage over the initial tariff hike.
Social Plugin