Toba Owojaiye reporting
LAGOS, Nigeria
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning to telecommunications companies over a recent 50% hike in tariffs, threatening a total shutdown of their operations nationwide if the increase is not reversed by the end of February 2025.
Truth Live News gathered that despite an ongoing negotiation between the Federal Government, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and labour leaders, some telecom operators have already implemented the new tariffs, drawing sharp condemnation from NLC.
In response, the NLC has called on workers and citizens to boycott services from major telecom providers—MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO—daily between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. from today, February 13, until the end of the month. It has also urged Nigerians to suspend data purchases from these companies as a show of resistance.
A communique signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emma Ugboaja described the tariff hike as “a betrayal of trust” and “a direct slap on the government and Nigerian people.”
“If the telecommunications companies fail to revert to the old tariff by the end of February 2025, a total shutdown of their operations nationwide will commence from March 1, 2025,” the statement warned.
Telecom companies, however, argue that the tariff adjustments are necessary due to rising operational costs, inflation, and a struggling economy. Some industry players have gone as far as warning that any attempt to shut down telecom services by force would amount to a treasonable felony.
If the strike proceeds, Nigeria could face severe disruptions, including:
Business and Banking Disruptions: A telecom blackout would affect financial transactions, as mobile banking and digital payments rely on network services.
Government and Emergency Services Impacted: Communication channels for government agencies, hospitals, and emergency responders would be compromised.
Economic Losses: Nigeria’s economy, which heavily depends on telecommunications and digital services, could suffer billions in losses within days.
Social and Political Tensions: A prolonged telecom shutdown could spark unrest among businesses and citizens who rely on mobile networks for daily operations.
What’s Next?
With just over two weeks before the NLC’s deadline, all eyes are on the Federal Government’s next move. Will the NCC and the government intervene to halt the strike, or will the telecom operators stand their ground?
The coming days will determine whether Nigeria faces one of its most significant telecom disruptions in history.