Telecoms mast
By Akeem Atoyebi
Opposition to the planned 50 per cent telecommunication tariffs hike has gathered more momentum with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday, writing its affiliate unions and state councils to ensure total mobilization of workers and allies ahead of the February 4, nationwide mass protest against the planned tariffs hike.
In a related development, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has notified the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, of its pending suit challenging the government’s decision to give approval for an increase in telecommunications tariff by 50 per cent.
This came on the heels of observation by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, that the hike will place additional burdens on low-income earners, noting, however, that it will offer necessary relief to operators.
But the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Related Institutions, NASU, umbrella body for pro-workers civil society organisation, Joint Action Front, JAF, and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, yesterday, implored Nigerians to join the February 4, planned protest, asking Nigerians to fully participate in any other action aimed at resisting the planned tariff hike.
However, NCC said it will engage NLC, SERAP, National Association of Telecom Subscribers in Nigeria, NATCOMS, and NATCOMS, to explain the reasons for the price adjustment.
Meanwhile, the NLC, in separate letters dated January 30, to affiliate unions and state councils, through its General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, urged them to also mobilise other Nigerians to send a serious message to the government.
The letter reads: “In response to a resolution of the meeting of the National Administrative Council, NAC, to resist the proposed 50 per cent hike in the tariff of telecommunication services and all other forms of policies that afflict Nigerian workers and masses, all state councils of NLC are directed to begin immediate mobilisation of members of their councils in their respective states for a one-day peaceful protest rally.
“The rally shall take place in various state capitals and FCT on February 4, 2025, by 7a.m. You are expected to co-ordinate all affiliates in your states and work with volunteering civil society partners resident in your state for effective rally.
“The rally procession should lead to any NCC office in the state, where not available, to the state House of Assembly where our petition will be presented. Further developments shall be made available.
“At this time of massive hardship, your unwavering support and determination is critical to defending ourselves and nation from policies that emasculate us for the benefit of corporate fat cats.”
Similarly, the letter to affiliate unions reads “In response to the decision of the NAC, resolution to resist the proposed hike in the tariff of telecommunication services and all forms of policies that afflict Nigerian workers and masses; all industrial unions affiliated to NLC are requested to begin immediate mobilisation of their members across the nation for a one-day peaceful protest rally.
“The rally shall take place in various state capitals across the nation and Abuja on February 4, 2025, by 7a.m.
“At this time of massive hardship, your unwavering support and action is critical to defending ourselves and nation from Policies that emasculate us for the benefit of corporate fat cats.”
SERAP writes NCC over pending suit against tariff hike
In a letter yesterday, SERAP, through the law firm of Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa & Co, cautioned the commission on the need to desist from taking any action that would be prejudicial to the suit before the court.
The letter reads: “We are solicitors to SERAP, the plaintiff in the above mentioned civil action, hereinafter referred to as our client, on whose behalf write to bring to your notice the pendency of the above-mentioned case an subsisting application for interlocutory orders for injunction therein.
“We have been reliably informed by our client that on or about January 20, 2025, the NCC, approved a 50 per cent increase in telecommunications tariffs, this approval is to lead to an in-in call rates from N11 to N16 per minute, data prices from N287.30 to 31.25 per GB, and SMS costs from N4 to N6.
“Given the increase comes at a time of economic hardship, further burdening Nigerians, many of whom struggle with poverty, unemployment, and high inflation, the hike will restrict access to telecommunications services, limiting the ability of citizens, including SERAP, to express themselves and share information, which is a fundamental human right.
“Our client equally informed us that the move has been met with public outcry and labour unions threatening nationwide action if the increase is not reversed.
“Being dissatisfied with the violation of its constitutional and vested right and further attempts to carry out activities to the detriment of our client’s interest and rights, take notice that the above-mentioned matter has been instituted at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking, inter alia, for a declaration that the tariff increase is0 unlawful and should be set aside with an order restraining the NCC and telecommunication companies from enforcing the tariff hike.
“Our client is, therefore, seeking judicial intervention and determination of the legality of all actions and decisions in relation to the increase and planned implementation of the telecommunication tariffs.”
NATCOMS had on Wednesday, also threatened court action over the planned tariff hike.
Director-General of LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, said: “While this hike may offer relief for the operators, it risks placing additional strain on consumers, particularly those in lower-income brackets. Another factor of consideration by most stakeholders is that Nigerian citizens and businesses deserve better services from the operators and more robust regulation from the government.
“In our quest for a one trillion-dollar economy, we need more investments in critical infrastructure to drive the much-needed digital revolution for growth and development. A robust digital infrastructure will support innovation across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.
“Looking beyond the hike, the operators and regulators need to settle down into delivering quality services to drive operational cost efficiency for businesses and support the automation of government services.”
Giving support to the NLC proposed protest, General Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, said: “The planned protest by the NLC is extremely important and a welcome development. The so-called telecommunication tariffs will add to the burden of Nigerian workers. It is not only exploitative but an act of wickedness.
“Why do they need such increase at this time? Are they running at a loss? I think the Federal Government should stop them. We are paying too many charges already. If you know how much the banks are removing from our money under different guises, you will be amazed.
“So, the NLC planned protests makes a lot of sense to us. It should go beyond protest. It should be followed by a full-blown strike action.”
Similarly, JAF’s Secretary, Abiodun Aremu, said: “JAF stands with the NLC in all protests that will advance the collective interest of the working class and the oppressed poor in our country.
“JAF will not only call on Nigerian workers to stand resolute in mobilising for a successful action but will join the NLC to encourage the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and other pro-workers platforms to join forced with the NLC.
“Equally to state that for JÀF, since its strategic relationship with the NLC since 2003, and its alliance with the NLC and TUC in LASCO (Labour and Civil Society Coalition), JAF will at no time decline any invitation from the NLC to join any protests anchored on working-class interests and the yearnings of Nigerians.
“We will as a tradition and with our full commitment play an active role in the protests and hereby urges all our allies and other constituencies of the oppressed masse, nationwide to harken to the call for action.”
National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said: “This government is increasingly proving to be one designed to serve the interests of big business and profiteers rather than the ordinary Nigerian. It is a government for corporate organisations, controlled by ministers who were allegedly hand-picked by billionaires to advance their business empires.
“Nigerians must realise that this fight is not just for NLC alone, it is a fight for every citizen being crushed by reckless economic policies.
“The NCC is supposed to be a regulatory body, but it has become a shield for telecom companies. There is no accountability in the way telecom firms deduct data, over-charge for services, or fail to deliver quality connectivity. Nigerians are being defrauded daily, and rather than stepping in to enforce consumer rights, the NCC is working to legalize their exploitation by approving this insensitive tariff hike.
“If Nigeria claims to be a capitalist economy, then telecom operators should negotiate their pricing directly with their customers based on quality of service. Government should not be imposing price hikes in a supposed free market. This move by the NCC is more akin to communism, where the state dictates economic outcomes, but in this case, it is for the benefit of private corporations at the expense of the masses.
“This is a deliberate attempt to stifle free speech and economic self-reliance among young Nigerians. Many unemployed youths create and post content online as a source of income. By making internet access unaffordable, the government is ensuring that only the wealthy and the elite have the power to communicate and engage in digital opportunities.
“The protest must be seen as a collective struggle for economic justice. Nigerians should not remain passive while their rights are being trampled upon.
“HURIWA will fully participate in this protest, and we call on all citizens to rise up and demand their rights. Those who have also gone to court to challenge this tariff hike have taken the right step, and we hope the courts will not disappoint Nigerians by siding with corporate greed,” he added.
In the same vein, the Movement for Socialist Alternative, MSA, through its General Secretary, Dagga Tolar, said: “We welcome the action and encourage all workers to come out in full support of the action.
“We also call on the NLC to not see this as a one-off action but to go ahead to put a committee in place for an action plan of mobilisation of all social forces of the working masses, including all pro-labour and civil society groups, informal workers groups, student and youth groups across the federation, so as to commence a coordinated action of struggle against all of the anti-people policies of the Tinubu regime
“Now is the time to act, to organise the working masses to go on a rescue mission and save the country from this rapacious gangs of the ruling class that puts the interest of capital both foreign and national above the wellbeing of the ordinary citizens of the country.”
On its part, the NCC yesterday said it would do everything possible to engage everybody or group peeved with the recent price adjustment, in order to explain why it was necessary.
The commission was responding to the threat by NLC to stage a nationwide protest on February 4, 2025.
A top NCC official said the commission had neither received any letter from the NLC nor NATCOMS seeking clarifications or reasons for the adjustment, even though it was working seriously towards engaging and explaining reasons to everybody or group that was not comfortable with the price adjustment.
The official said: “Most of the protests against the price adjustment, including court actions and threats of it are basically out of ignorance. Most people do not understand the grave implications of what they are calling for. If they would give the commission the listening ears, they would understand we acted to save the sector and the entire economy.
“When the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Students, NANS wrote us, we invited them for a meeting and by the time we explained the processes and procedures, including the grave implications if we didn’t do what we did, they clearly understood.
“I believe every other group that would allow dialogue will also see reasons. We are going to engage everybody, even those who are said to have gone to court already. To safeguard the economy should be more important to all than pandering to sentiments,” he added.
