NLC Sets February 4 for Nationwide Protest Against Telecom Tariff Hike

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has announced February 4, 2025, as the date for a nationwide protest against the recently approved 50 percent increase in telecommunications service tariffs.

This follows the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) January 20 approval, which has sparked widespread rejection from Nigerians, including organized labour.

In a statement on Wednesday, the NLC reaffirmed its opposition to the hike, vowing to mobilize workers across the country to resist the decision, which it says will exacerbate economic hardship.

The protest was agreed upon at the ongoing National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting of the labour union.

According to the NLC, the move is intended to send a strong message to the government that Nigerian workers will not accept policies that further impoverish the masses.

NLC President Joe Ajaero criticized the decision, stating:

“This decision, coming at a time when Nigerian workers and the masses are grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, is a clear assault on their welfare and an abandonment of the people to corporate fat cats.”

Meanwhile, the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers has also vowed to take legal action against the federal government and telecommunications companies over the tariff hike.

The government has defended the increase, citing rising inflation, which stood at 34.80 percent in December 2024, as justification for the policy.

With tensions rising, the February 4 protest is expected to be a major showdown between the labour movement and the authorities.

Given the NLC’s history of mobilizing mass action, the situation could escalate into a broader pushback against economic policies affecting Nigerians.

This protest has the potential to dominate public discourse in the coming weeks, much like the heated political developments you’ve covered in the past.

If you’re planning any news edits or promotional content around this, it might be worth framing it as not just a telecoms issue but part of a larger debate on economic policies affecting everyday Nigerians. Let me know if you want to refine this angle further!