Mobile Network Operators have ruled out negotiations with the Nigeria Labour Congress over the recent 50 per cent tariff increase, insisting that no reduction will be made despite union protests.
The stance was articulated at a forum held over the weekend in Lagos, where representatives from major operators—including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, and 9mobile—addressed concerns surrounding the adjustment approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission on January 20, 2025.
The NLC has rejected the tariff hike and is demanding a reduction to five per cent, threatening a nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, if its demands are not met.
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, argued that the approved increase is vital to sustaining telecom operations amid escalating costs.
“This increase is a lifeline that enables us to survive,” Adebayo said.
“Anything lower would be like giving someone who needs 100 litres of oxygen only a fraction—barely enough to keep them alive but insufficient for long-term survival.”
MTN Nigeria’s Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo, emphasised that individual operators do not engage directly with the NLC.
“We have not been talking to the NLC because our industry association, ALTON, handles such engagements. They have already communicated the rationale behind the tariff adjustment, which is essential for the sustainability of telecom services,” he explained.
Airtel Nigeria’s Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Femi Adeniran, echoed this sentiment, adding that any discussions with the NLC are managed by relevant government agencies and ALTON.
The NCC defended the 50 per cent tariff increase, citing rising operational costs driven by inflation, foreign exchange fluctuations, and higher energy expenses.
In its statement, the Nigerian Communications Commission said the adjustment is in line with its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, to ensure the financial sustainability of the telecom sector.
Meanwhile, the NLC has condemned the hike as “insensitive and unjustifiable,” arguing that it would impose an extra burden on Nigerian consumers. The union’s president, Joe Ajaero, reiterated the demand for a significant reduction.