The federal government is set to meet with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday in a bid to prevent a planned nationwide protest against the 50 percent hike in telecommunications tariffs.
A reliable source, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed that the meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday and will focus on resolving issues raised by the NLC concerning the tariff increase.
The source described the upcoming meeting as a “dialogue on matters of national interest as it affects Nigerian workers.”
The session will be an inter-ministerial discussion led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) aimed at addressing concerns from the NLC and its allies, who have strongly opposed the federal government’s approval of the telecom tariff hike.
The NLC has already begun mobilizing workers for a mass protest set for Tuesday, February 4, against the 50 percent increase in telecom tariffs, which was approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on January 20, 2025. The decision has faced widespread backlash from telecom subscribers.
In a letter to affiliate unions and state councils on Thursday, NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja urged them to rally Nigerians to send a “serious message” to the government.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, led by Adeolu Ogunbanjo, has announced plans to take legal action against the federal government over the tariff hike.
Ogunbanjo suggested that any telecom tariff increase should not exceed 10 percent, given the ongoing economic hardship Nigerians are enduring.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has defended the 50 percent hike, attributing it to global inflation.
