CDHR President Tackles NLC Over Proposed Telecom Tariff Hike Protest

Speaking during the citizen’s accountability forum on the state of the nation at Rights House in Ikeja, Lagos, Mr Adeniran said the labour union could have embarked on the rally when President Bola Tinubu announced the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

Recall that the NLC asked its affiliates across the nation to embark on a nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, to kick against the 50 per cent telecom tariff increase approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on January 20, 2025, the first of such since 2013.

The leader of the union, Mr Joe Ajaero, who made this announcement, said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting convened by the group’s National Administrative Council (NAC) on Wednesday.

The NLC said the rally would serve as a warning on the dangers of imposing such an unfair increase on a struggling population earning a minimum wage of only N70,000; a population that has suffered outrageous hike in the price of petrol, high cost of food, hike in electricity tariff and general rising inflation.

It called on all Nigerian workers as well as the informal sector and the general public to stand in solidarity against what it termed unjust policy, saying the NAC-in-session totally rejected the 50 per cent hike which it considers as too harsh for citizens.

“It therefore strongly condemns the Nigeria Communications Commission’s decision to approve the increase in telecommunications tariffs.

“This decision is insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace, who are already burdened by worsening economic hardship foisted on them by Policies of government which was no fault of theirs,” the union said, demanding an immediate suspension of the 50 per cent tariff hike.

It also called on the federal government, the NCC, and the National Assembly to engage in meaningful dialogue with critical stakeholders to review the proposed tariff adjustment within the context of the economic realities facing Nigerians.

“We will not relent in our struggle against policies that undermine the welfare and dignity of our people. Nigerian workers and citizens must unite and take action to prevent further economic oppression.

“We must resist any policy that prioritizes corporate profits over the well-being of the people,” the union added.

In his reaction, Mr Adeniran argued that the desired impart the labour union was trying to make with the planned nationwide rally may not be effective as some Nigerians were already overburdened and stress out by the many seemingly dictatorial policies and moves of the present government.

He praised President Tinubu for his tax reform move, describing it as pro-people, saying the poor will breathe this time around when implemented.