NLC declares nationwide protests

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide protest scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

The purpose of the protest is to oppose the 50 percent telecom tariff increase approved by the Nigerian government.

This decision comes after the NLC rejected the hike on January 22, arguing that it would worsen the already difficult living conditions of the citizens.

The protest aims to warn the government that workers will not accept this increase, which they believe prioritizes corporate profits over the welfare of Nigerians.

The NLC argued that the tariff hike is a burden on Nigerian workers, with many already struggling with high costs of living.

For instance, a worker earning the current minimum wage of N70,000 would see their telecom bill rise from N7,000 to N10,500 per month, which would be unsustainable.

The NLC also criticized the government for approving this increase swiftly while delaying a much-needed minimum wage increase for workers.

The union has called on the government, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the National Assembly to halt the implementation of the tariff hike, urging them to engage in a dialogue for a more reasonable increase.

They also warned of potential further action, including a nationwide boycott of telecom services, if the increase is not reversed.