The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leadership is negotiating with the House of Representatives Committee on Communications to prevent a nationwide demonstration against the 50% increase in communication rates that is planned for February 4, 2025.
Citing current operating costs, the Nigerian Communications Commission allowed a 50% pricing rise for telecom businesses.
Disappointed by the outcome, the NLC promised to launch a statewide demonstration and urged the National Assembly and the Nigerian government to temporarily return to the previous price.
According to the union, the rally would serve as a warning about the perils of enforcing such ‘an unfair increase on a struggling population earning a minimum wage of only N70,000—a population that has suffered an outrageous increase in the price of petrol, high cost of food, and a hike in the electricity tariff, among other hardships in the past few years.’
In an interview with reporters, Peter Akpatason, the chairman of the House Committee on Communications, stated that the panel was already contacting the NLC to cancel the scheduled large-scale demonstration.
Representative of Edo State’s Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, Akpatason, stated that if the planned demonstration is permitted, Nigerians will only suffer more.
“To prevent any action that might cause greater pain for the people, the committee that I chair is already contacting the labour leadership and industrial operators.
“We previously met with industry operators, who provided an overview of the various issues facing the sector, including a lack of money for infrastructure improvements to address consumer complaints about poor coverage and deteriorating service quality. Before starting any protests, I will suggest that we take an unbiased look at the problems.”
Reuben Mouka, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, also informed reporters that the commission was trying to talk to the NLC about the new telecom rate.
He stated, “We are attempting to engage them.”
