Angered by the Federal Government’s (FG) approval of a 50 percent hike in telecommunications tariff, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has started rallying Nigerians to reject “another harsh burden” and threatening to mobilise workers to boycott telecom services.
This is just as the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, described the tariff that will begin next month as outrageous, lamenting that it will worsen the harsh living conditions of workers and Nigerians.
HURIWA also accused the Federal Government of further impoverishing citizens through a policy that stifles freedom of expression and access to essential communication services.
Recall that the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, had on Monday, approved a rise in tariffs for telecom operators by 50%, against the 100% rise demanded by the operators.
This immediately drew the ire of the consumers’ association which described government’s approval as not only punitive but also insensitive.
Tariff hike an assault on Nigerians’ welfare — NLC
Rallying Nigerians to reject the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike approved by the Federal Government through the NCC, the NLC in a statement, titled “50% Telecom tariff hike: Another burden too harsh,” by its President, Joe Ajaero, said: “The NLC expresses its unequivocal condemnation of the Federal Government’s recent approval, through the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, of a 50 per cent increase in telecommunication tariffs.
‘’This decision, coming at a time Nigerian workers and the masses are grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, is a clear assault on their welfare and an abandonment of the people to corporate fat cats.
“Telecommunication services are essential for daily communication, work, and access to information. Yet, an average Nigerian worker already spends approximately 10 per cent of his wages on telecom charges.
‘’For a worker earning the current minimum wage of N70,000, this means an increase from N7,000 to a staggering N10,500 per month or 15 per cent of his salary—a cost that is unsustainable.
50% telecom tariff hike outrageous —TUC
On his part, Deputy President of TUC, Dr. Tommy Okon, told Vanguard that the planned increase is not only unhealthy but also failed to appreciate the ability of subscribers, especially workers, to pay.
He said: “We do not understand the state of mind of the managers of the nation’s economy. Unfortunately, the managers of Nigeria’s economy have alienated themselves from the reality of Nigeria of today.
‘’How can a government give approval for a 50 percent hike in the tariff of telecom services at a time even the N70,000 minimum wage has been eroded by inflation, electricity tariff hike, exorbitant cost of fuel, transportation and other social services?
‘’The planned tariff hike is very unhealthy to workers and the common man. Telecom services, especially data services, make workers and the common man happy since they cannot afford the cost of pay TV. It is the data from the telecom services they depend on for relaxation and other entertainment.
CNG rejects hike, demands suspension
In like manner, the National Coordinator of CNG, Jamilu Charanchi, in a statement, described the hike as ill-timed.
Charanchi described the tariff hike as an assault on the dignity and livelihoods of the people who had been economically pauperised.
He said: “The CNG totally and unequivocally rejects the recent astronomical 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs in the country as sanctioned by the NCC. (Vanguard).
