The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged Nigerians to prepare for a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services in protest of the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) recent approval of a 50 per cent increase in telecom tariffs.
On Monday, the NCC formally approved a 50 per cent in telecom tariffs after a telcos’ agitation for cost-reflective prices in the face of harsh economic conditions. This increase, which was below the 100 per cent rise telcos asked for, pushed the average cost of calls to N16.5 per minute from N11, the cost of 1GB of data to N431.25 from N287.5/GB, and SMS prices to N6 from N4.
According to the commission, “The adjustment, capped at a maximum of 50 per cent of current tariffs, though lower than the over 100 per cent requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability.”
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a statement on Wednesday, condemned the tariff hike, describing it as an unjust burden on citizens already grappling with economic challenges. He expressed concern over the timing of the hike, saying it coincides with rising inflation and declining purchasing power.
He noted that telecom services have become a basic necessity as the average Nigerian worker spends approximately 10 per cent of their income on telecom charges.
Ajaero called on Nigerians to reject the tariff hike and prepare for collective action, including the possibility of a mass boycott of telecommunication services, to compel a reversal of the increase.
“NLC is not opposed to a tariff review but disagrees with the approved rate of increase. We therefore call on the government, the NCC, and the National Assembly to stop the implementation of this ill-advised hike and allow a reasonable conversation about it. If the dialogue agrees on the need for the hike, then we can all seek a more humane increase and not this 50 per cent hike,” he stated.
The NCC explained, while announcing the increase in tariffs, that adjusting rates was aimed at addressing the gap between rising operational costs and current tariffs while ensuring that the delivery of services to consumers is not compromised.
It would be recalled that telcos had lamented that they were facing a shutdown due to a 300 per cent rise in operating costs. In 2024, Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, declared that the company would shut down if tariff increases were not implemented.
“These adjustments will support the ability of operators to continue investing in infrastructure and innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers through improved services and connectivity, including better network quality, enhanced customer service, and greater coverage,” the NCC stated.
