Tariff hike: NLC declares three-hour daily boycott of telecomms services

Tariff hike: NLC declares three-hour daily boycott of telecomms services

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong warning to major telecommunications companies, including MTN, Airtel, and Glo, threatening a total nationwide shutdown of their operations if the recently implemented 50 percent tariff hike is not reversed by the end of February 2025. 

In a communiqué after its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Tuesday, the NLC directed Nigerian workers and citizens to commence a daily boycott of services provided by these telecom giants between 11am and 2pm, effective today.

Signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, the communiqué condemned the sudden tariff hike as a betrayal of trustand an affront to the Nigerian people.

The Congress noted that the tariff increase was implemented despite an earlier agreement between the telecom companies, the Federal Government, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which had set up a 10-man committee to review the proposed tariff adjustments and submit recommendations within two weeks. 

However, the telecom operators proceeded with the hike before the committee’s report was finalised, a move the NLC described as an act of bad faith and corporate arrogance.

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The NLC also called on all Nigerians to suspend the purchase of data from MTN, Airtel, and Glo, stating that data services have become one of the key tools through which these companies exploit Nigerian consumers. 

In addition to demanding the immediate reversal of the tariff hike, the Congress further demanded the repatriation of all funds siphoned out of the country by these telecom companies. 

“The CWC demands an immediate reversal of the tariff hike, which took effect today, and insists that the companies revert to the previous tariff until the committee completes its deliberations and reaches a conclusive agreement.

“As a first step in resisting this arbitrary tariff hike, the CWC has directed that, beginning Thursday, February 13, 2025, Nigerian workers and other willing citizens shall boycott the services of MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO daily between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM until the end of February 2025.

“All workers and citizens are urged to suspend the purchase of Data from these companies which has also become one of their greatest tools tor exploiting Nigeria

“We also demand the repatriation of all funds siphoned out of the country by these companies.

“If the telecommunications companies fail to revert to the old tariff by the end of February 2025, a total shutdown of their operations nationwide will commence from all NLC State Councils are directed to commence immediate sensitization and mobilization of their members and the general public within their jurisdictions,” it stated.

The NLC urged civil society organisations, student groups, and the general public to support the boycott as a demonstration of solidarity against economic hardship.

On Tuesday, MTN began implementing the 50 per cent tariff hike as approved by the NCC, with other operators expected to follow suit shortly.

However, the House of Representatives directed the telecom regulator and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to halt the tariff increase, citing concerns about the impact on citizens who are already grappling with inflation and hardship.

Despite this directive, investigation by Daily Sun showed that MTN’s data subscription packages still reflect the increased rates.

 

Tariff hike: NLC declares three-hour daily boycott of telecomms services