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. READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Chanel.
Activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju slams President Tinubu’s administration over a 50% telecom tariff hike, calling it a “government from hell.” Learn about the public backlash and NATCOMS’ legal plans here. Activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, labeling it a “government from hell.” Adeyanju’s remarks came in response to the recent approval of a 50% hike in telecommunications service tariffs by the Federal Government. He accused the current administration of deliberately inflicting hardship on Nigerians. The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has expressed strong disapproval of this decision and has announced plans to take legal action against the Federal Government over the tariff hike. Telecom Tariff Increase Sparks Outrage Reports indicate that this is the first significant increase in telecommunications charges since 2013. Adeyanju voiced his frustration on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where he condemned the government’s decision. In his post, he stated: “They just increased the tariff for all phone calls in the country.The government has vowed to punish Nigerians with suffering. A government from hell. This year, I have zero tolerance for nonsense. If you come to my timeline defending this injustice, I will block you. Supporting a government that is destroying Nigerians and the economy is unacceptable.” Public Backlash Intensifies The tariff hike has sparked widespread anger, with many Nigerians describing the move as inconsiderate amidst existing economic challenges. Critics argue that such decisions deepen the hardship faced by citizens in an already fragile economy. As the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers prepares to challenge the tariff hike in court, the issue continues to generate heated discussions both online and offline. Key Takeaways READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Chanel.
