The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has expressed outrage over the hike in tariffs by telecommunications companies, despite an earlier agreement reached with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and demanded immediate reversal of the increase to avoid unpleasant consequences.
However, the operators are not taking any of NLC’s threats, warning that labour’s actions would amount to a treasonable felony.
Recall that the Federal Government and NLC had about two weeks ago, emerged from a meeting convened by the former to see how the price hike could be reduced from the proposed 50 %.
A 10-man committee, comprising five members from each of the two parties, was constituted and given two weeks to further deliberate on the issue before a decision was taken.
The two-week deadline given to the committee ends this week but some of the telecommunications companies have already effected a hike of 50% hike in data.
According to NLC, “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.”
To show its seriousness, the labour movement declared that as a first step in resisting the arbitrary tariff hike, it directed that from Thursday, February 13, 2025, (today) workers and other willing citizens should boycott the services of MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO daily between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, with effect from Thursday, February 11 till end of February 2025.
Leaders of the NLC in a communique at the end of a Central Working Committee, CWC, meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Tuesday, urged workers and citizens to suspend purchase of data from the telecommunications companies.
The communique, signed by the President and General Secretary of Congress, Joe Ajaero, and Emma Ugboaja, respectively, directed state councils and industrial union affiliates to commence immediate sensitization and mobilization of their members and the general public within their jurisdictions.
The communique read: “The CWC of the NLC was convened in Lokoja, Kogi State, on February 11, 2025, to deliberate on pressing national issues, including the 50 per cent telecommunications tariff hike, the proposed Tax Reform Bills, and to roll out the Compressed Natural Gas, CNG-powered buses for the North Central zone of Nigeria.
Tariff hike
“The CWC received with grave concern the news that telecommunications companies have commenced implementation of a 50 per cent tariff hike on February 11, despite an earlier agreement reached with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.
“It was recalled that a 10-man committee had been constituted to deliberate on the matter within two weeks and report back before any final decision would be made on the new telecom tariff structure.
“The CWC strongly condemns this action by the telecommunications companies, describing it as a betrayal of trust, an affront to the principles of negotiation, and a direct slap on the government and its institutions and a disdain for Nigerian people.
“CWC-in-session believes that this is a further demonstration of regulatory capture and impotence in the midst of corporate onslaught and the continuing abandonment of workers and masses to corporate fat cats by the government.
“This unwarranted and premature tariff hike demands an immediate response from our collective resolve since the government clearly favours the rich against the people.
Resolutions
“The CWC demands an immediate reversal of the tariff hike, which took effect on February 11, 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, (today), Nigerian workers and other willing citizens shall boycott the services of MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO daily between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm until the end of February 2025.
“All workers and citizens are urged to suspend the purchase of data from these companies. We also demand the repatriation of all funds siphoned out of the country by these companies.
“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.
“All NLC state councils are directed to commence immediate sensitization and mobilization of their members and the general public within their jurisdictions.
“All NLC affiliate unions are requested to mobilize their members across the country to observe electronic silence during the designated hours.
“We implore all our civil society allies and other interested stakeholders are to join us in making this action effective.”
Tax reform bills
On the Tax reform bills, the communique stated: “The CWC also reviewed the ongoing discussions around the Tax Reform Bills being considered by government. While acknowledging the need for fiscal reforms, the Congress insists that any tax policies must be designed to alleviate the burdens on Nigerian workers and not worsen the existing economic hardship.
“The NLC shall engage with relevant authorities to ensure that tax reforms are fair, equitable and worker-friendly.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress remains committed to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers and citizens. The CWC calls on all Nigerians to unite in this struggle against exploitative economic policies and to actively participate in the outlined actions to demand justice and fairness in telecommunications, taxation, and transportation policies.”
TUC
Efforts to speak with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, on its position over the NLC planned action was unsuccessful at press time yesterday.
But it was gathered that the TUC leaders, along side other stakeholders in the labour sector, were holding a meeting with the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation, ILO, Gilbert Houngbo.
However, TUC had on February 6, at its National Administrative Council, NAC, endorsed the earlier decision by NLC on the issue.
“The NAC also examined the planned 50 per cent increase in telecom tariffs and fully endorses the position of our sister labour centre, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in rejecting this move.
“The decision to increase tariff was made without proper consideration of its economic impact on the masses.
There must be meaningful engagement to explore alternatives and ensure that any policy adjustments are fair, sustainable, and do not further burden already struggling citizens,’’ the TUC had stated.
Telcos talk tough, say labour gravitating towards treason
Reacting to NLC’s threat last night, the operators said it amounted to a treasonable felony and asked the Federal Government to be on red alert, considering the security breach such action would cause if carried out.
But the National Association of Telecom Subscribers in Nigeria, NATCOMS, berated the NCC for allowing telcos to do whatever they liked, allegedly undermining core industry stakeholders.
NATCOMS said the only way the regulator could redeem its image was to sanction the telecom operators that activated the increment when the NLC, telecom stakeholders and operators were scheduled to have a conversation on it.
However, speaking to Vanguard, a senior official of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators in Nigeria, ALTON, said labour was taking too far whatever oversight functions it had on such issues.
According to a source, “what does Labour want from the operators? Do we operate in isolation of the Nigerian economy? What did Labour do with the removal of fuel subsidy, the increment in pump price of petrol, flotation of the naira and the recent hike in bank charges?
“Why is it that Labour is not looking at the ballooning operational costs in the industry, instead it is interested in shutting down telcos.
“Let it carry out that threat and see how it will shut down major facilities that keep Nigeria’s security system going. Then, their leaders will be arrested for treasonable felony.”
The source said all the operators and not only MTN Nigeria, as being touted by many people, were activating the data price adjustment, pleading that MTN should not be unjustly harassed.
On his part, President of NATCOMS, Chief Deolu Ogubanjo, accused the NCC of standing aloof while operators take the subscribers by the jugular.
He said: “The NLC has every right to be angry. We, as NATCOMs, are too. Although, we do not support the shutting down of telcos due to far-reaching implications, but something must happen to show the telcos they have to respect the voice of the people.
“The NLC and other stakeholders, including us, were scheduled to meet the NCC and the telcos in a week’s time and instead of waiting for the meeting which would have determined an amicable resolution of the issues, the telcos went berserk with data price hike.
‘’Where was the NCC? It is a disgrace and NCC must sanction them now to redeem image. That’s our position.’’
However, justifying the tariff increase the telcos said the argument that telecom services should remain artificially cheap because the cost of food and other essentials had risen was flawed.
Chairman of ALTON, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, said: “Telecommunications cannot be used as a subsidy for economic hardship in other sectors. If prices remain unsustainably low, service quality will deteriorate, and ultimately, the industry will collapse.
“The government must take responsibility for providing economic relief, rather than expecting telecom operators to absorb rising costs at their own expense.
“The proposed 50% tariff adjustment is not merely about profitability, it is about keeping the networks operational. Beyond sustaining existing services, it is also about expanding coverage to rural areas where millions still lack access to telecom services.
“Investments in infrastructure will empower rural communities, creating new income opportunities and improving overall economic efficiency. As these communities gain connectivity, their contributions to the national GDP will increase.’’
(Vanguard)
