50% tariff hike: NLC moves to shut down NCC, MTN, Glo over unfulfilled agreement

More than a month after the Federal Government, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Organized Labour reached an agreement to reduce the telecommunications tariff hike from 50% to 35%, both the government and NCC have remained silent on the promised 15% reduction.

Meanwhile, telecom operators have proceeded with the full 50% tariff increase, reflecting the hike in their rates without any sign of implementing the agreed reduction.

Earlier, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had pressured the government and NCC to reconsider the tariff hike, which it described as exploitative, especially in the face of worsening economic hardship and poverty. Following NLC’s threat to shut down telecom operations, the government agreed to lower the hike to 35% instead of the initially proposed 50%.

To address concerns, a 10-man committee—comprising five government representatives and five NLC officials—was formed to review the tariff structure. The committee, which convened on February 21, 2025, at the National Security Adviser’s office, held a three-hour deliberation and agreed to a 15% reduction. An official communiqué announcing this decision was expected on February 22, but to date, no such announcement has been made.

NLC leaders are now expressing frustration, believing they have been misled by the government. According to sources, mobilization for industrial action has already begun, with the exact date being kept secret.

An NLC leader told Vanguard:

“We received directives last week to begin mobilization. The date for the industrial action is set, but we are keeping it under wraps for now. We thought this matter was resolved over a month ago, but it appears we’ve been deceived. We have no choice but to take direct action.”

On February 12, 2025, the NLC had strongly opposed the tariff hike, labeling it a violation of the earlier agreement. The congress issued a final warning, demanding a reversal to the old tariff structure. If telecom operators fail to comply by February 29, 2025, the NLC will commence a nationwide shutdown of their operations from March 1, 2025.

As part of its protest strategy, the NLC has called on Nigerians to boycott telecom services daily between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. throughout February 2025. In a communiqué issued after its Central Working Committee meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State, on February 11, the NLC urged Nigerians to stop purchasing data from MTN, Airtel, and Glo, accusing them of exploiting consumers.

The statement, signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emma Ugboaja, directed NLC State Councils and union affiliates to mobilize and educate members on the situation.

With the government and NCC remaining silent and telecom operators ignoring the agreed reduction, the stage is now set for a major showdown between the NLC and the telecommunications sector.