The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its state councils to commence immediate sensitisation and mobilisation of their members and the general public within their jurisdictions to shut down the operations of telecommunication companies nationwide on March 1, 2025 should they fail to revert to the old tariff by the end of February 2025.
As a prelude to the impending action, the NLC directed that from Thursday, February 13, 2025, (today) workers and other willing citizens should boycott the services of MTN, Airtel, 9Mobile, and GLO daily between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.
The resolutions are contained in a communiqué issued and signed by the NLC president, Mr Joe Ajaero, and secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja.
The decision to boycott telecommunication services was reached after the NLC central working committee (CWC) met in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Tuesday to discuss pressing national issues such as the 50 percent telecom tariff hike and tax reforms bill.
The labour union condemned the implementation of a 50 per cent tariff hike by mobile network operators despite an agreement reached with the federal government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to set up a 10-man committee for adequate negotiations on the matter.
The union described the insistence on the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike by telecommunication firms as a demonstration of ‘regulatory capture.’
“The CWC received with grave concern the news that telecommunications companies have commenced the implementation of a 50 percent tariff hike today (Tuesday), despite 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 and impotence in the midst of corporate onslaught and the continuing abandonment of workers and masses to corporate fat cats by the government.
“This unwarranted and premature tariff hike demands an immediate response from our collective resolve since the government clearly favours the rich against the people.
“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,” the communiqué stated
It added: “All workers and citizens are urged to suspend the purchase of data from these companies which has also become one of their greatest tools for exploiting Nigerian citizens.
“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 March 1, 2025.”
The communiqué said all the NLC affiliate union were also requested to mobilise their members across the country to observe electronic silence during the designated hours.
“We implore all of our civil society allies and other interested stakeholders are to join us in making this action effective,” it added.
