Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed Nigerian workers and citizens to shun the services of telecommunications providers, like MTN, Airtel, and Glo, daily between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM beginning from Thursday, February 13.
This order follows the sudden implementation of a 50 percent increase in telecom tariffs, which the NLC described as a betrayal of trust and an affront to the Nigerian people.
The decision was announced in a communique issued after the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the Congress held in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Tuesday.
According to the communique, signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, the tariff increase was introduced despite an earlier agreement between telecom companies, the Federal Government, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), where a 10-man committee was established to review the proposed tariff adjustments and submit recommendations within two weeks.
NLC said that the telecom operators however, proceeded with the hike before the committee’s report was finalised, a move it condemned as “a betrayal of trust, an affront to the principles of negotiation, and a direct slap on the government and its institutions.”
It continues, “This unwarranted and premature tariff hike demands an immediate response from our collective resolve since the government clearly favours the rich against the people.
“The CWC demands an immediate reversal of the tariff hike, which took effect today, and insists that the companies revert to the previous tariff until the committee completes its deliberations and reaches a conclusive agreement.
“As a first step in resisting this arbitrary tariff hike, the CWC has directed that, beginning Thursday, February 13, 2025, Nigerian workers and other willing citizens shall boycott the services of MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO,”
The NLC urged civil society organisations, student groups, and the general public to support the boycott as a demonstration of solidarity against economic hardship.
“This is not just about the tariff hike; it is about defending the economic rights of all Nigerians. We must stand together against corporate greed and government indifference,” the Congress stated.
On Tuesday, MTN began implementing the 50 per cent tariff hike as approved by the NCC, with other operators expected to follow suit shortly.