THE Trade Union Congress (TUC) has warned that it will embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government does not reverse its approval of a 50 percent increase in telecommunications tariffs.
The union described the move as ill-timed and an act of economic oppression against Nigerians.
TUC President Festus Osifo stated this during an interview today. He emphasized that the union strongly opposes the tariff hike and will take decisive action if the government refuses to reconsider its decision.
Following a National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting, Osifo was asked whether the union would down tools and take to the streets if their demands were ignored.
He stated affirmatively that further consultations with the Central Working Committee (CWC) and the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union would determine the timeline and course of action.
Osifo however noted that the root cause of the problem lies in foreign exchange mismanagement, not the rising cost of telecommunications services.
He insisted that instead of increasing tariffs, the government should address forex instability, which has driven up operational costs for telecom companies.
He acknowledged that service providers are struggling with high operating expenses, but maintained that economic stability would be a more sustainable solution than continuous tariff increases.
The proposed tariff hike has sparked outrage among labour unions and civil society organizations.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had initially scheduled a protest for Tuesday, but later suspended the demonstration after a meeting with government representatives.
Both parties have since agreed to form a 10-member committee, with five representatives each from the NLC and the Federal Government, to review the issue and submit their report within two weeks.