NLC's Protest Suspension: What It Means for Telecom Users and Tariffs

Following a Monday meeting between the labor union and the Federal government team headed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, the decision was made.

The meeting was intended to preserve industrial peace and safeguard Nigerians' interests, according to a statement signed by Seguin Imohiosen, Director, Information & Public Relations in the SGF's office.

Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government, he added that Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, stated that the meeting's goal was to examine the NCC's study that resulted in the 50% increase in telecommunications rates.

Following much discussion, the two organizations decided to form a 10-member committee, with five members from the Federal Government and five from the NLC, to examine the study and provide a report in two weeks.

In summary, a committee consisting of five members has been established by the federal government delegation, the Nigerian Labour Congress in particular, and Labour. For the next two weeks, we will be gathering here on a regular basis. He added, "We will now develop a recommendation that we will present to the government and organized labor for final consideration at the end of the second week."

According to Comrade Joe Ajaero, president of the NLC, the union will wait for the Committee's decision before deciding on its next course of action.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)'s Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Aminu Maida, Minister of Labor and Employment, Alhaji Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijanni, were among those in attendance.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved a 50% rise in telecom tariffs, which the NLC has announced will be the subject of a statewide mass rally on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

The NLC stated that the rally would serve as a warning about the perils of enforcing such an unjust increase on a population that is already struggling and making only ?70,000 per year, a population that has seen astronomical increases in the price of food, gasoline, electricity, and inflation in general.