NLC demands telecom tariff rollback, threatens shutdown if nothing changes
On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strongly condemned the 50% increase in telecom tariffs by mobile companies. They are calling for the immediate reversal of this hike, warning that failing to do so could lead to serious consequences.
What happened?
Despite an agreement with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), telecom companies have gone ahead with raising prices. In response, the NLC has given a deadline: if the tariffs are not reduced by March 1, 2025, they will shut down telecom operations across the country.
NLC’s action plan:
Starting Thursday, February 13, 2025, the NLC is encouraging people to:
- Boycott MTN, Airtel, and Glo services every day from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, until the end of February.
- Stop buying data from these companies.
- Spread the word by joining with NLC state councils and unions to raise awareness.
In a statement, NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emma Ugboaja said that telecom companies broke the trust with Nigerians by raising tariffs before the agreed-upon review was completed. They also criticized the government for not protecting citizens from these unfair business practices.
Tax reforms and more:
In addition to the telecom issue, the NLC reviewed new Tax Reform Bills and warned that some of these policies could place more financial burdens on workers. While they support the idea of fiscal reforms, they are pushing for tax policies that will be fair and worker-friendly.
If the tariff hike is not rolled back by February 29, 2025, the NLC has vowed to go ahead with the nationwide telecom shutdown starting March 1, 2025. The Congress is calling on all civil society groups and Nigerians to join the fight against unfair economic policies.
