In a sharp rebuke of the Federal Government’s economic policies, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has voiced strong opposition to the recently announced 50% increase in telecom tariffs by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The union is calling for a more manageable 5% hike and has announced a nationwide protest for February 4, 2025, to mobilize Nigerians against the steep tariff hikes and other government policies they deem harmful to the country’s citizens.
Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, and Benson Upah, the union’s spokesperson, criticized the government’s repeated implementation of policies that they argue serve the interests of international financial institutions, particularly the Bretton Woods institutions, at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.
“People Can Pay, But Won’t Pay”
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Upah expressed frustration over the continuous tax hikes and the government’s disregard for the struggles of the Nigerian people. “They keep on emasculating us through stupid taxes. It will come to a point when people can pay but they won’t pay,” Upah said, highlighting the government’s controversial policies that have been worsening the financial strain on the average Nigerian.
The NLC has strongly condemned the NCC’s decision to increase telecom tariffs by 50%, calling it an unfair burden on the already struggling masses. Upah voiced the union’s clear opposition to the hike, noting that while an increase is inevitable due to the current economic climate, it should not exceed 5%.
Proposed 5% Increase: A Call for Fairness
“Where will the ordinary Nigerians be at the end of the day when we have energy tariff increases? The manufacturers are groaning, the middle-class people are groaning. The ordinary Nigerians on the streets can’t even afford to turn on the lights in their sitting rooms,” Upah argued. “When taxes are low, more people can pay. But now, with rising tariffs across various sectors, this is becoming unbearable.”
The NLC spokesperson’s comments echoed the frustrations of many Nigerians who have felt the pinch of rising prices across all sectors, from fuel to food, as a direct result of government policy changes in the past year.
A Growing Cost-of-Living Crisis
In May 2023, shortly after President Bola Tinubu assumed office, he implemented a series of sweeping economic reforms in line with recommendations from international financial bodies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These included the removal of the petrol subsidy and the devaluation of the naira, both of which have contributed to Nigeria’s severe inflationary pressures.
Since then, the price of petrol has surged by over 400%, climbing from around N200 per litre to well above N1,100 in many regions. The value of the naira has also dramatically depreciated, spiraling from roughly N700 to N1,600 to the dollar. These changes have led to a spike in food prices and a growing sense of economic instability across the nation.
“The removal of petrol subsidies and the devaluation of the naira were pushed through by the IMF and the World Bank, but what have we gained from this?” Upah continued, pointing out the absence of immediate relief or meaningful reforms to mitigate the widespread hardships felt by citizens.
The IMF and World Bank’s Influence
The IMF and World Bank have long advocated for the removal of energy subsidies and the devaluation of the naira as part of their broader economic reform agenda. Their position has been that these measures are essential for stabilizing the country’s economy and bringing it into alignment with global financial standards. However, the results have been devastating for the average Nigerian, with soaring inflation and a dramatic increase in the cost of living.
Many Nigerians now find themselves facing an uncertain future as essential goods, including food, medicine, and fuel, become increasingly unaffordable. For many, the telecom tariff hike represents another blow in a long series of price increases, making basic services increasingly out of reach.
The NLC’s Nationwide Protest
In response to the growing dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the economy, the NLC has announced a nationwide protest set for February 4. The union is calling on workers, activists, and concerned citizens to take to the streets in a show of solidarity against the 50% telecom tariff hike and other government policies that have led to what the NLC describes as a “cost-of-living crisis.”
“Our rally on February 4 is to halt this mindless tariff increase,” Upah declared. “And if by any chance there has to be an increase at all, 5%, given the fact that there have been increases across the board, is all we can bear.”
The union’s planned protest is likely to attract significant attention, given the mounting public discontent with the economic situation. NLC’s resolve to press on with the protest signals their commitment to fighting what they consider to be the excessive burden imposed on Nigerian citizens by these policy changes.
The Way Forward: Struggling for Relief
As the country grapples with economic turmoil, the calls for change from the NLC and other civil society groups are growing louder. The union insists that the government must rethink its approach to taxation, tariffs, and subsidy removals in order to avoid further social unrest.
“There’s only so much the people can endure,” Upah cautioned, stressing that Nigeria’s workers and citizens are increasingly unwilling to bear the weight of policies that have led to a drastic reduction in their quality of life. “We need a change. We need a fairer economic system that doesn’t destroy the average Nigerian.”
While the government has yet to comment on the NLC’s protest plans, it is clear that the debate over telecom tariffs and economic reforms is far from over. The next few weeks may see increased public outcry and possibly even greater resistance to the current administration’s economic strategy.
