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Labour unions to begin nationwide strike on February 4th over telecom tariff hike
DDM News

Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Nigerian labour unions have announced that they will initiate a nationwide strike on February 4, 2025, to protest the recent 50 percent hike in telecommunications service tariffs.
Diaspora digital media (DDM) reports that this decision was disclosed by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in a statement released on Wednesday.
This move follows the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approval on January 20, 2025, for telecom companies to increase their service tariffs by 50 percent.
The approval has met with widespread opposition from various sectors of the Nigerian populace, including the NLC, which has been at the forefront of the resistance.
In a bid to demonstrate their disapproval of the hike, the NLC has vowed to shut down the country with a nationwide protest.
This protest is part of their efforts to mobilize public opinion against the 50 percent increase in telecom tariffs.
The NLC’s stand on the issue was solidified at the ongoing National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting of the labour union, where it was agreed that a nationwide protest would take place.
The goal of the protest is to send a clear message to the government that Nigerian workers will not accept the tariff hike.
The union has expressed concern that the increase would exacerbate the already dire economic situation in the country, worsening poverty levels and further burdening the working class.
The NLC has emphasized that, with workers already struggling amidst severe economic hardship, the timing of this hike is particularly detrimental to their welfare.
Earlier in January, the NLC rejected the 50 percent increase in telecom service tariffs, which was approved by the Nigerian government through the NCC.
The union labeled the decision as an “assault on the welfare” of the Nigerian people.
According to NLC president Joe Ajaero, the tariff hike represents a betrayal of the people, particularly when they are already grappling with rising inflation, unemployment, and an overall decline in living standards.
The NLC’s condemnation of the tariff hike highlights how it is viewed as a blow to the Nigerian masses, who are already facing economic hardship.
The union argued that the hike only benefits telecom corporations, which are now being empowered to impose higher costs on the public while workers and the general population bear the brunt of rising living costs.
The NLC has been vocal in calling the government’s action an abandonment of its duty to protect citizens from corporate exploitation.
In response to the NLC’s concerns, the Nigerian government has consistently defended the hike, stating that it is necessary to address inflationary pressures.
According to the government, inflation, which was recorded at 34.80 percent in December 2024, has made it inevitable for telecom companies to raise tariffs to remain viable.
This justification, however, has done little to quell the growing dissent, as many Nigerians, including labour unions, see the price hike as an unnecessary burden on the masses.
The NLC’s call for a strike is part of a broader movement that includes other Nigerian groups, such as the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), which has also expressed its opposition to the tariff hike.
NATCOMS has threatened legal action against both the government and telecom companies, aiming to challenge the tariff hike in court.
While the NLC’s protest is intended to raise awareness and build opposition against the tariff hike, the union is also pushing for a review of the decision by the government.
The protest, scheduled for February 4, 2025, is expected to draw significant participation from labour groups across the country.
Through this mass mobilization, the NLC hopes to force the government to reconsider the hike and explore alternative solutions that would not add further strain to the pockets of Nigerian workers.
As the protest date approaches, tensions are rising as Nigerians brace for potential disruptions.
However, for labour unions, this strike is seen as a necessary step to stand against what they believe to be an unjust policy that further alienates the working class.
For the NLC, this fight is not just about telecom tariffs but about broader concerns over the welfare of workers and the erosion of their rights under the current economic conditions.
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