Outrage as Federal Government Approves 50% Telecom Tariff Hike
A wave of outrage erupted yesterday following the Federal Government’s approval of a 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs. The decision, announced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has drawn widespread condemnation from labor unions, civil society groups, and advocacy organizations, with many describing it as a harsh blow to Nigerians already burdened by economic hardship.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on citizens to reject what it terms “another harsh burden” and is threatening to mobilize workers for a boycott of telecom services. Similarly, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) labeled the tariff hike as “outrageous,” warning that it will exacerbate the dire living conditions faced by workers and ordinary Nigerians.
Widespread Condemnation
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) also expressed its displeasure, describing the timing of the tariff hike as insensitive to the plight of struggling Nigerians. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) echoed these sentiments, calling the hike “illegal, unconstitutional, and oppressive.”
HURIWA further accused the government of deliberately impoverishing citizens through policies that stifle freedom of expression and limit access to essential communication services.
Background to the Hike
The NCC approved a 50% tariff hike after telecom operators initially requested a 100% increase. While the reduced approval may appear as a compromise, it has been widely criticized as punitive and tone-deaf.
Consumer advocacy groups have lambasted the decision, describing it as a blow to already struggling households, with many questioning the government’s priorities.
NLC Calls the Hike an Assault on Nigerians’ Welfare
In a strongly worded statement titled “50% Telecom Tariff Hike: Another Burden Too Harsh,” NLC President Joe Ajaero denounced the government’s move.
“The NLC expresses its unequivocal condemnation of the Federal Government’s approval of this 50% increase in telecom tariffs,” Ajaero said. “This decision is a direct assault on the welfare of Nigerian workers and the masses, who are already grappling with unprecedented economic hardship.”
Ajaero highlighted the essential role of telecom services in daily life, noting that the tariff hike would disproportionately affect low-income earners.
“For a worker earning the current minimum wage of ₦70,000, this hike means their telecom expenses will rise from ₦7,000 to ₦10,500 per month—15% of their salary. This is unsustainable,” he stated.
The NLC criticized the government for prioritizing corporate profits over the welfare of citizens. “It is shocking that the government approved this tariff increase within a month, while it took nearly a year to approve the recent minimum wage increase for workers,” Ajaero added.
Calls for Reversal
With tensions rising, labor unions and civil society groups are rallying Nigerians to resist the hike. Many are demanding a reversal of the decision, urging the government to focus on policies that alleviate the economic burden on citizens rather than exacerbate it.
As the implementation date for the tariff hike looms, the outcry is expected to intensify, with Nigerians bracing for yet another challenge to their already strained finances.
