By Publisher
The Nigeria Labour Congress has succumbed to pressure and halted its planned Tuesday nationwide protest against the 50 percent telecommunication tariff hike.
This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the trade union and the Federal Government, following a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Monday night.
In the MoU signed by the SGF, Senator George Akume, NLC president Joe Ajaero, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, and the National Secretary of NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, both parties agreed to set up a technical committee to resolve gray areas in the 50 percent telecom tariff approval.
However, the NLC insisted on its rejection of the tariff hike.
The communique read: “Arising from the meeting convened by the Federal Government of Nigeria on the proposed 50% hike in telecommunications tariffs in the country, which the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed strong opposition to, citing its potential negative impact on the Nigerian workers and the economy with a threat to proceed on a one-day nationwide mass protest, the following resolutions were reached: That there is a need for the parties to sit together in a technical group to resolve most of the thorny areas raised during the discussion; consequently, a 10-man joint committee was set up of five (5) representatives each from the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); and the committee shall conclude and submit its deliberations within two (2) weeks from this 3rd day of February, 2025.
“The parties call on the Nigerian people to remain calm while this committee concludes its assignment.”
The NLC had last week announced a one-day mass protest against the telecom tariff hike on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
The union had in a notice by its National Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, asked the state congress and affiliate unions to mobilise for Tuesday’s mass protest against the approval of a 50 percent telecommunications tariff hike for operators.
The NLC and other telecom subscribers had kicked against the tariff hike due to the pervading harsh economic condition confronting Nigerians.
