Should the telecom companies operating in Nigeria fail to revert to their old tariff, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliates have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike effective from March 1, 2025.
This is just as the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMs) called for sanctions against the operators for a “sudden tariff hike”.
Following the conclusion of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State on Wednesday the NLC vowed not to accept the increase in tariff while negotiations between it and the government lasts.
“The CWC received with grave concern the news that telecommunications companies have commenced the implementation of a 50 per cent tariff hike today, 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,” NLC said.
Therefore, the NLC demanded an immediate reversal, adding that its members would boycott MTN, Glo and Airtel services from Thursday (February 13, 2025). A nationwide strike is slated to take off from March 1, 2025.
NATCOMs, through its President, Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo, said it was still in court over the 50 per cent tariff hike approved for the operators by the Federal Government and that the service providers failed to yield to the NLC agreement to the effect that a 10-man committee should be constituted to deliberate on the tariff hike within two weeks and report back before any final decision would be made on the new telecoms tariff structure.
“NATCOMs prepared to go to court as far back as January, but when NLC stepped in, we decided to wait to see the outcome, now, they have bungled the whole thing with this sudden hike.”
He, however, said subscribers were not in support of the NLC strike and called for a boycott of telephony services, “but erring operators, should be sanctioned.”
