Osamagbe Imadiyi
In an effort to reverse the 50% telecom tariff hike to 10%, the Nigerian Communications Commission will meet with the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers on Friday. The Nigeria Labour Congress has indicated that it is prepared to protest.
Initially, operators asked for a 100 percent hike, but the Federal Government approved a 50 percent increase. However, subscribers are demanding a 10% adjustment, and they intend to challenge the decision in court the following week if negotiations are unsuccessful.
On Wednesday, the labour union, headed by Joseph Ajaero, criticized the increase, saying it would put more strain on Nigerian workers who make less than $50 a month as minimum wage.
In order to force the government and the NCC to overturn the ruling, the union threatened to take collective action, which could include a national boycott of telecom services.
“Going to court is the civil way of doing things, not boycotting telecom services,” NATCOMS President Adeolu Ogunbanjo said in a statement regarding the development on Thursday. Such measures, he said, would undermine investor trust in the Nigerian market, particularly as the government tries to draw in foreign capital.
“We have no support whatsoever for the NLC. Investors will receive the wrong signals from it. These are private companies, and President Bola Tinubu is making a concerted effort to attract investors. Therefore, we cannot condone that foolishness”.
The subscriber association emphasized that Nigeria’s telecom industry serves as a successful example of privatization and urged NLC to look for solutions that benefit operators and customers alike.
Benson Upah, the NLC Public Relations Officer, called on Nigerians to take firm but nonviolent action against the 50% telecom tariff increase that is creating unease. He underlined how crucial it is for people to take part in nonviolently defending their rights.
“People have the right to protest laws that they believe to be unjust. People have a responsibility to constructively express their resentment rather than merely pontificating. “You can make your point without resorting to violence or aggression,” Upah said.
Upah urged people to consider alternatives like skipping services and holding nonviolent protests, emphasizing the necessity of coordinated and effective resistance.