The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide protest set for Tuesday, February 4, to oppose the 50% telecom tariff hike recently approved by the Federal Government. The protest is meant to send a clear message to the government that workers will resist the increase, as it will only deepen the poverty levels across Nigeria.

This announcement was made during the ongoing meeting of the NLC’s National Administrative Council. The union believes that the planned hike will make life even harder for Nigerians already struggling with high living costs and economic challenges.

On January 22, the NLC had already rejected the 50% increase in telecom tariffs, which was approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The NLC argued that the timing of the increase is troubling, as it comes when workers and the general public are facing severe financial strain. According to NLC President Joe Ajaero, this hike represents an unfair burden on the people and seems to favor corporate interests over the welfare of the public.

The planned protest reflects the union’s commitment to resisting measures that they believe negatively impact the lives of ordinary Nigerians.