The House of Representatives’ Committee on Communications is engaging with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to prevent the nationwide protest scheduled for February 4, 2025, over the recent 50% hike in telecom tariffs.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently approved the increase, attributing the decision to rising operational costs in the telecommunications sector.

NLC’s Opposition to the Tariff Hike

Reacting to the development, the NLC has strongly opposed the tariff adjustment and is calling on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to revert to the previous rates. The labor union argues that the increase places an additional financial burden on citizens already struggling with high living costs.

In a statement, the NLC emphasized that the protest serves as a warning against imposing what it termed “an unfair increase on a struggling population earning a minimum wage of only N70,000.” The union highlighted the recent surge in fuel prices, escalating food costs, and rising electricity tariffs as compounding factors worsening economic hardship.

House Committee’s Intervention

Speaking exclusively with Sunday PUNCH, the Chairman of the House Committee on Communications, Peter Akpatason, confirmed that discussions are underway with both the NLC and telecom industry stakeholders to avert the planned demonstration.

“The committee that I chair is already reaching out to the leadership of labour and the industry operators to prevent any action that could worsen hardship for Nigerians,” Akpatason stated.

He further disclosed that the committee had previously engaged with telecom operators, who cited various industry challenges, including insufficient funding for infrastructure upgrades to improve service quality and network coverage.

“I will advise that we look at the issues objectively before embarking on any protests,” he added.

NCC’s Response to Public Concerns

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Reuben Mouka, confirmed that the commission is actively engaging with the NLC over the telecom tariff adjustments.

The commission’s stance and potential resolutions from the ongoing discussions will be closely monitored as stakeholders work towards a balanced approach that safeguards consumer interests while addressing industry challenges.