NLC rejects 50% telecom tariff hike, threatens nationwide action

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Wednesday, lambasted the federal government and telecommunications companies for increasing tariff by 50% amid rising cost of living in the country.

It described the recent hike of telecommunications tariff as an assault on Nigerians’ welfare, adding that it exemplified the government’s apparent preference for prioritising corporate profits over citizens’ welfare.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, told journalists at Labour House, Abuja, that the labour movement was not against the tariff hike considering the galloping inflation in the country but disagreed with the approved rate of increase.

Ajaero, who also lampooned members of the National Assembly for not standing with the majority of Nigerians regarding some policies, called for immediate stoppage of the implementation of the hike.

The labour leader, while calling mass action against the hike, wondered why there was never a dialogue among critical stakeholders before such an increment was announced.