NLC to Shut Down Nigeria on February 4 over Telcos Tariff Increase

BY BONNY AMADI
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced that it will stage a nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, to express its opposition to the approval for 50 percent increase in telecommunication tariffs granted to tele- communication companies by the Nigerian government.
In a communiqué signed by its President Joe Ajaero, after its National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting in Abuja, the NLC announced that the one-day rally will take place across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The NLC said, “This protest is a collective expression of our opposition to the unjust tariff hike.
“We are calling attention to the harm this increase will cause to a population already struggling with a minimum wage of just N70,000—one that has faced steep rises in the price of petrol, food, electricity tariffs, and overall inflation.”
The Congress urged all affiliates and state councils to mobilize for the protest and invited civil society groups to join the cause.
“We call on Nigerian workers, those in the informal sector, and the general public to stand with us against this unjust policy,” it added.
The NLC demanded an immediate suspension of the tariff hike, urging the Nigerian government, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), and the National Assembly to engage in a constructive dialogue with relevant stakeholders to reconsider the adjustment, given the economic challenges Nigerians are facing.
The Congress called the planned 50 percent increase “insensitive” and “unjustifiable,” saying it would only add to the burden on workers and ordinary Nigerians who are already grappling with the consequences of government policies that are out of their control.
“If our demands are not addressed, the NLC will escalate its actions, including a possible nationwide boycott of telecommunication services and other forms of protest, including the mass withdrawal of services,” the statement warned.
The NLC reiterated its commitment to defending the rights and interests of Nigerian workers and citizens against exploitative economic policies.
“We must unite to prevent further economic oppression and resist any policy that prioritizes corporate profits over the wellbeing of the people,” the NLC added.