Osamagbe Imadiyi
The Nigeria Labour Congress has decided to postpone its March 1, 2025, protest after agreeing to a 35% increase in telecom rates with the Federal Government. On Thursday, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers praised NLC’s decision and demanded improved relief measures for telcos.
The Nigerian Communications Commission announced a 50% increase in telecom rates on January 20, 2025, marking the first significant change in more than ten years. Before the government stepped in, telecom operators, who were struggling with growing operating costs as a result of inflation and currency depreciation, had first suggested a 100% increase.
According to several NLC insiders, talks between the union and the federal government produced a compromise on Thursday, reducing the originally suggested 50% increase to 35%. A committee consisting of ten members was established to discuss and finalize the agreement. According to a reliable source within the labor union, “Have you not heard that the FG and the NLC have reached an agreement? It was decided by the 10-member committee to lower the telecom tariff hike from 50% to 35%. “That should be obvious,” the source said when asked if this meant the March 1 protest would be postponed.
The Federal Government’s decision to approve a 35% increase was denounced by Funmi Sessi, the chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the NLC, in a previous interview. She called it an unjust burden on Nigerians who were already struggling. Upah Benson, the NLC Public Relations Officer, announced that the union’s National Executive Council would meet today (Friday) to discuss the issue in more detail.
