Telecom industry unions have backed out of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) planned nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, against the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) approval of a 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs.
They said they were not consulted on the protest, adding that the strike is misguided.
Following extensive discussions with stakeholders, the NCC approved a tariff adjustment of up to 50%, which was significantly lower than the 100% increase proposed by telecom operators.
The Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) also disassociated itself from the NLC’s decision, saying it was not consulted before calling for the strike.
The PTECSSAN’s General Secretary, Okonu Abdullahi, wrote the NLC saying the tariff hike was implemented to save the sector from collapsing.
“Despite these concerns, the NLC, in a communiqué issued after its National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting, demanded an immediate reversal of the 50 per cent hike,” Abdullahi said.
The NLC in a communiqué signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, condemned the NCC’s decision, calling it an excessive burden on citizens.
The last telecom tariff increase approved by the NCC was in 2013 when Nigeria’s inflation rate stood at 8.5 per cent.
Today, inflation has surged to 34 per cent, a nearly 300 per cent increase, prompting calls for tariff adjustments to reflect economic realities.
