The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) convened in Lokoja, Kogi State, today, Tuesday, February 11, 2025, to deliberate on pressing national issues, including the 50% telecommunications tariff hike, the proposed Tax Reform Bills,and to rollout the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses for the North Central zone of Nigeria.
The CWC received with grave concern the news that telecommunications companies have commenced the implementation of a 50% tariff hike today, an earlier agreement reached with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). It was recalled that a 10-man committee had been constituted to deliberate on the matter within two weeks and report back before any final decision would be made on the new telecom tariff structure.
The CWC strongly condemns this action by the telecommunications companies, describing it as a betrayal of trust, an affront to the principles of negotiation, and a direct slap on the government and its institutions and a disdain for Nigerian people.
CWC-in-session believes that this is a further demonstration of Regulatory capture andimpotence in the midst of corporate onslaught and the continuing abandonment of workers and masses to corporate fat cats by the governmnent.
This unwarranted and premature tariff hike demands an immediate response from our collective resolve since government clearly favours the rich against the people.
