Nigerians Set for Showdown as NLC Mobilizes Nationwide Protests Against 50% Telecom Tariff Hike

By Achimi Muktar

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a nationwide rally on February 4, 2025, in a bold move to resist the controversial 50% increase in telecom tariffs approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Following a National Administrative Council meeting in Abuja, NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the tariff adjustment, describing it as harsh, exploitative, and unfair to millions of Nigerians already struggling with skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation, electricity tariff hikes, and economic hardship.

“This rally is a warning shot against policies that impose more suffering on Nigerians. We will not stand by while citizens are forced to pay more for essential communication services,” Ajaero stated.

The NLC has instructed all its affiliates and state councils to commence mass mobilization, urging workers, market traders, students, and all Nigerians to join the protest and resist the tariff increase.

While the NCC insists that the tariff adjustment is necessary due to rising operational costs and industry sustainability, critics argue that it will worsen economic conditions for Nigerians who depend on affordable telecom services for daily life and business.

The February protest is set to be a major showdown, as tensions rise between the government, telecom operators, and an increasingly frustrated population.