NLC Announces Nationwide Protest on February 4 Against Proposed 50% Telecom Tariff Hike
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide protest against the proposed 50 per cent hike in telecom tariffs approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The protest, scheduled for February 4, follows a resolution reached during the NLC’s National Administrative Council meeting on January 29.
NLC President Joe Ajaero strongly condemned the tariff increase, describing it as “insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general public already struggling with economic hardship.” Ajaero further warned that failure to reverse the hike could result in a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services.
Civil Society Organisations, including the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), and the Take It Back Movement, have pledged support for the protest, criticizing the NCC’s decision and calling for immediate suspension of the tariff adjustment.
The Federal Government had approved a 50 per cent increase despite telecom operators initially requesting a 100 per cent hike. The NLC argues that imposing such an increase on citizens earning a minimum wage of N70,000 is unjust and exacerbates the already dire economic conditions marked by rising inflation, high fuel costs, and increased electricity tariffs.
Ajaero has directed all NLC affiliates to mobilize members for the February 4 rally, calling on Nigerian workers, informal sector players, and the general public to stand against the policy. He urged the government to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders to reassess the tariff increase.
Meanwhile, telecom operators and subscribers have pushed back against the planned protest. Chairman of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Tony Emoekpere, questioned why the NLC was singling out telecom operators while price hikes in other sectors had gone largely unchallenged. He stressed that the tariff adjustment was necessary to maintain service quality and sustain the industry.
Similarly, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (ATCIS) has backed the increase, though it has advocated for a reduction to 10 per cent. ATCIS President Sina Bilesanmi dismissed the NLC’s protest plans, stating that the tariff hike had already been finalized following extensive consultations with key stakeholders.
With battle lines drawn between labour unions, civil society groups, and telecom stakeholders, the February 4 protest is poised to be a major confrontation over economic policies affecting millions of Nigerians.
 has announced a nationwide protest against the proposed 50 per cent hike in telecom tariffs approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The protest, scheduled for February 4, follows a resolution reached during the NLC’s National Administrative Council meeting on January 29.){kind=link}