The Nigeria Labour Congress has reaffirmed it stands against the 50% telecom tariff increase approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission, insist if there must be a chance, a 5% increase should suffice for it.
The spokesperson of the NLC, Benson Upah, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Thursday, reiterated the stands of the union.
“They keep on emasculating us through stupid taxes. It will come to a point when people can pay but they won’t pay. This really is to halt this mindless tariff increase. And if by any chance there has to be an increase at all, 5%, given the fact of our situation that there have been increases across the board.
“But now to say 50%, it is not going to work. Where will the ordinary Nigerians be at the end of the day when we have energy tariff increases?” he said.
He also hinted at the proposed nationwide protest scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 2025, by the union which aims at amplifying their displeasure about the exorbitant increase.
He also emphasized the ripple effect of the tariff increase on the average Nigerians, noting that the vast majority of them can not afford it.
“The manufacturers are groaning, the middle-class people are groaning. The ordinary Nigerians on the streets can’t even afford to turn on the lights in their sitting rooms. When taxes are low, more people than when you have high taxes,” he added.
