Group Declares Opposition To NLC’s Protest Against Telecom Tariff Hike

NCWGG Plans to Challenge NLC’s February 4 Protest on Telecom Tariff Hike

ABUJA – The Nigeria Citizen Watch for Good Governance (NCWGG) has declared its intention to mobilize against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in response to the planned nationwide protest on February 4, 2025, against the recent telecommunications tariff increase.

The group argues that the NLC’s opposition to the hike is counterproductive and could harm the country’s economic stability.

NCWGG Supports Telecom Tariff Increase

In a statement released on Thursday, Collins Eshiofeh Idowu, President of NCWGG, defended the decision by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to approve up to a 50% increase in telecom service charges. According to him, this adjustment is vital for sustaining the telecommunications sector, which is a major contributor to employment and economic growth.

He criticized the NLC’s stance, stressing that the union had failed to consider the challenges telecom operators face, including rising operational costs. He warned that rejecting the price adjustment could destabilize the sector, leading to job losses and disruptions in communication services.

“NLC’s Protest is an Economic Sabotage” – NCWGG

The group strongly opposed the planned protest, describing it as unnecessary and harmful to Nigeria’s economic interests.

“Did the Labour Congress consider the millions of jobs that rely on a stable telecom industry? What happens if telecom operators can no longer afford to sustain their services? If Nigerians are unable to make calls or access the internet, it would cripple economic activities,” the statement read.

Furthermore, NCWGG accused the NLC of acting against the interests of Nigerians and the administration of President Bola Tinubu by failing to recognize the long-term benefits of the tariff adjustment.

NCWGG Mobilizes Against NLC Protest

Declaring its readiness to counter any anti-tariff demonstrations, NCWGG vowed to mobilize its members across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The group maintained that allowing the tariff increase would help modernize Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure, meet the increasing demand for data services, and ensure high-quality, uninterrupted telecommunications for Nigerians.

“This increase is necessary to protect the telecommunications industry, enhance service delivery, and drive economic progress. We will not allow economic instability to be created by uninformed protests,” NCWGG concluded.