Abuja, Nigeria — The leadership of the telecommunications workers’ union has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to reconsider its planned nationwide protest against the federal government’s 50 percent increase in telecom service tariffs.
In an official letter addressed to the NLC President and the National Administrative Council, the union’s General Secretary, Comrade Okonu Abdullahi, emphasized the necessity of the tariff hike to sustain the telecom sector amidst mounting operational challenges.
The union expressed concern over NLC’s decision to mobilize workers for a nationwide protest scheduled for February 7, 2025, without consulting stakeholders in the telecom industry.
Citing rising costs as a key issue, the union highlighted the significant impact of fuel subsidy removal, surging electricity tariffs, and the depreciation of the naira on the sector.
“The cost of powering telecom base stations with Automated Gas Oil (AGO) has skyrocketed from N842.25 to N1,441.28 since May 2023,” Abdullahi revealed. “In addition, the cost of petrol for engineers maintaining these sites has soared from N198 to over N1,030.”
The fluctuating exchange rate, with the naira depreciating from N460 to N1,700 per dollar, has further exacerbated the situation by making it more expensive for telecom companies to import essential equipment.
Abdullahi warned that without the tariff adjustment, telecom companies may resort to service cuts, resulting in job losses and disruptions in critical sectors such as finance and national security.
He also noted that telecom workers have yet to enjoy wage increases due to the financial strain on employers, unlike employees in other industries.
The union urged the NLC to reconsider its protest plans, stressing that the tariff hike is essential for the sector’s survival.
“If the sector collapses, the ripple effect will severely impact other industries,” the letter cautioned. “Continued opposition to the price adjustment could lead to mass layoffs and unreliable network services.”
The telecom union called for constructive dialogue to address the concerns of all stakeholders while ensuring the sustainability of the telecom industry and the welfare of its workforce.
By Taiwo Olatinwo| February 1, 2025
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