Federal Government to Meet NLC as Nationwide Protest Looms Over 50% Telecom Tariff Hike

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There are signs that the federal government is set to meet with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday to prevent the planned nationwide protest on Tuesday against the 50 percent increase in telecommunications tariffs.

A reliable source close to the matter, who chose to remain anonymous, shared this information on Monday morning, confirming that the meeting between the NLC leadership and the federal government is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday.

The source described the meeting as a “dialogue on matters of national interest as it affects Nigerian workers.”

According to the source, the session will be an inter-ministerial gathering with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), aimed at resolving concerns raised by the NLC regarding the government’s decision to approve the hike in telecommunications tariffs, which the NLC, its allies, and others strongly oppose.

Meanwhile, the NLC has already begun organizing workers for a mass protest on Tuesday, February 4, to protest the 50 percent hike in tariffs.

Last Thursday, NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja sent a letter to affiliate unions and state councils, urging them to rally other Nigerians to send a strong message to the government.

The planned demonstration follows the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) approval of the 50 percent telecom tariff increase on January 20, 2025, which has been met with widespread disapproval from telecom subscribers.

According to report, subscribers, under the banner of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, led by Adeolu Ogunbanjo, have announced plans to take the federal government to court over the tariff hike.

Ogunbanjo had suggested that if a tariff hike was necessary, it should not exceed 10 percent, given the already severe economic hardship faced by Nigerians.

However, Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, attributed the 50 percent increase to global inflation.

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