NLC Suspends Planned Protest After Reaching Telecom Tariff Agreement with FG

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its planned nationwide protest scheduled for March 1, 2025, after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government on a revised telecommunications tariff hike. The decision followed intense negotiations that resulted in reducing the initially proposed 50 per cent tariff increase to 35 per cent.  

The NLC’s decision to shelve the protest has been welcomed by the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), which, while supporting the reduction, called for additional relief measures to cushion the impact on consumers.

The tariff hike was first announced on January 20, 2025, by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The commission had initially approved a 50 per cent increase, citing rising operational costs due to inflation and currency depreciation. Telecom operators had initially pushed for a 100 per cent increase before the government’s intervention led to a compromise.

Multiple sources within the NLC confirmed on Thursday that discussions between the union and the Federal Government resulted in a downward adjustment of the increase. A 10-member committee was subsequently formed to finalize the agreement.

One of the sources, speaking anonymously, stated, “Have you not heard that an agreement has been reached between the NLC and the FG? The 50 per cent hike in telecom tariff has been reduced to 35 per cent as agreed by the 10-man committee.”

When asked if this agreement meant the planned protest had been called off, the source responded, “That should be obvious.”

However, not all labour leaders are satisfied with the outcome. In a previous interview with The PUNCH, the Chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the NLC, Funmi Sessi, criticized the government’s role in determining pricing, calling it an “anomaly.”

“How can the Federal Government be the one determining prices? This is an anomaly,” she argued.

Sessi further insisted that any tariff adjustment should be implemented gradually and not exceed 15 per cent, considering the economic hardships Nigerians are facing.

Meanwhile, NLC spokesperson Upah Benson disclosed that the union’s National Executive Council would meet on Friday to deliberate further on the matter and determine the next course of action.

The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has cautiously welcomed the reduction but insists more relief measures should be introduced to ease the burden on consumers.

NATCOMS President, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, acknowledged the 15 per cent reduction as a result of consumer advocacy but expressed disappointment that his association was not included in the negotiations.

“I believe it is 35 per cent, but this is based on what I heard from sources,” Ogunbanjo told *The PUNCH*. “That information has been out there since Monday.”

He stressed that while a 15 per cent reduction is a step in the right direction, telecom operators should consider further adjustments to minimize the impact on subscribers.

“We fought, and at least a 15 per cent reduction is something,” Ogunbanjo said.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), along with industry groups such as the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), is yet to issue an official response regarding the new agreement.