The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a nationwide protest set for Tuesday, February 4, opposing the proposed 50% increase in telecom tariffs. This decision was finalized during the ongoing National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting, reinforcing the union’s commitment to resisting policies that deepen economic hardship.
The NLC insists that such a tariff hike, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is an unfair burden on workers already struggling with rising costs. With telecom services essential for daily life, the increase would push many Nigerians further into financial distress. For instance, a worker earning the minimum wage of ₦70,000 would see telecom expenses jump from ₦7,000 to ₦10,500 monthly—an unsustainable rise.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, condemned the move as a betrayal of the masses, prioritizing corporate profits over citizens’ well-being. He stressed that Nigerian workers will not stand by while policies that worsen poverty are implemented. The planned protest serves as a strong warning to the government that the people’s voice cannot be ignored.