The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by its President, Mr. Joseph Ajaero, has criticised the 50 per cent hike in telecoms tariffs, describing it as an added burden on Nigerian workers who earn less than $50 per month as minimum wage.
He called on telecommunication subscribers to “reject” the Nigerian Government’s new 50 per cent tariff hike, warning of the potential collective action, including a nationwide boycott of telecom services, to compel the government and the NCC to reverse the decision.
In a statement shared on its X handle, the NLC wrote “Reject This Tariff.” The hike, the first in over a decade, is aimed at revitalising the struggling telecom sector, which contributes about 14 per cent to Nigeria’s economy.
It wrote, “N16.50 per minute, calls costs increased from N11 per minute. N6 per message, SMS charges increased from N4 per message. N431.25 per IGB data bundle” IGB data bundle increased from N287.50.
“50% telecom tariff hike: Another burden too harsh on Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) is scheduled to engage the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Friday, seeking a possible reversal of the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike to 10 per cent.
The Nigerian Government approved a 50 per cent increase after operators initially requested a 100 per cent hike. However, subscribers are pushing for a 10 per cent adjustment, and if talks fail, they plan to file a lawsuit next week to challenge the decision.
The hike, the first in over a decade, is aimed at revitalising the struggling telecom sector, which contributes about 14 per cent to Nigeria’s economy, and has continued to spark widespread debates and controversies.
The President of NATCOMS President Adeolu Ogunbanjo told journalists on Thursday that “Going to court is the civil way of doing things, not boycotting telecom services.”
He expressed concern that such actions would harm investor confidence in the Nigerian market, especially as the government works to attract foreign investment.
“We are not backing the NLC at all. It will send wrong signals to investors. These are private businesses, and President Bola Tinubu is trying hard to woo investors. So we can’t support that rascality.”
Tariff rates on phone calls and messages have remained unchanged, even as operators face rising costs fueled by inflation, exchange rate volatility, and substantial investments needed to meet increasing consumer demand.
These challenges have created significant financial strain, jeopardising the sustainability of the telecommunications sector—a vital pillar of Nigeria’s digital economy.
The subscriber association emphasised that the telecom sector is a model of successful privatisation in Nigeria, urging NLC to seek solutions that benefit both consumers and operators.
“Telcos are there to make a profit, and at the same time, consumers must not be exploited. We’ve been at this for quite a while,” he said.
GIK/APA