The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has shelved its planned protest scheduled for March 1, 2025, after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government on a 35 percent increase in telecom tariffs.
The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers hailed the NLC’s ruling on Thursday, calling for better relief measures for telecoms.
On January 20, 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission announced a 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs—the first significant change in almost a decade. Telecom providers, which were dealing with increased operational expenses due to inflation and currency depreciation, had initially suggested a 100% rise before the government interfered.
Multiple internal sources at the NLC told reporters on Thursday that negotiations between the union and the Federal Government resulted in a compromise, reducing the initially requested 50% raise to 35%. A 10-member committee was constituted to discuss and finalize the agreement.
A source with the union said, “Have you not heard that an agreement has been reached between the NLC and the FG? The 50 percent hike in telecom tariff has been reduced to 35 percent as agreed by the 10-man committee.”
When asked if this means the protest scheduled for March 1 would be shelved, the source replied, “That should be obvious.”
Earlier, the Chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the NLC, Funmi Sessi, condemned the Federal Government’s decision to approve a 35 percent increase, calling it an unfair burden on already struggling Nigerians.
“How can the federal government be the one determining prices? This is an anomaly,” she argued.
Sessi stated that any tariff adjustment should be gradual and not exceed 15 percent, given the current economic hardship.
However, the NLC Public Relations Officer, Upah Benson, told reporters that there would be a National Executive Council meeting of the union today (Friday) to deliberate further on the matter.
Adeolu Ogunbanjo, President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, praised the reported decrease of the projected 50% telecom bill hike to 35% but urged for more relief measures to reduce the burden on customers.
In reaction to reports of the tariff adjustment, Ogunbanjo stated that NATCOMS was not invited to participate in the rate-reviewing committee.
“I believe it is 35 percent, but this is based on what I heard from sources,” Ogunbanjo stated. “That information has been out there since Monday.”
He described the 15% reduction as the outcome of consumer lobbying but urged telecom carriers to consider additional cuts to mitigate the impact on customers.
“We fought, and at least a 15 percent reduction is something,” he said.
