- Ajaero: “Government is prioritizing telecoms over citizens“
By Abiola Olawale
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed strong criticism against the Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) for its decision to approve a 50% hike in telecom tariffs.
The NLC also berated the government for allegedly prioritizing the interests of telecom companies over the welfare of the general populace.
This comes after the government announced a 50% tariff increase.The development had been justified by the government as a response to economic pressures including inflation, naira devaluation, and increased operational costs for telecom operators.
However, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero argued that this move adds an undue financial burden on citizens who are already facing economic hardships.
He added that the timing of the tariff hike, amidst ongoing discussions about workers’ welfare and minimum wage, has been particularly contentious.
Ajaero also threatened that all Nigerian workers and masses would unite to reject the ” unjustifiable tariff hike.”
He said: “We urge citizens to prepare for collective action, including the possibility of a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services, to compel the reversal of this punitive increase. This is for our dignity, our rights, and our survival as a people.”
He also described the decision as a clear assault on workers’ welfare and an abandonment of the people to corporate fat cats.
According to Ajaero, telecommunication services are essential for daily communication, work, and access to information. Yet, an average Nigerian worker already spends approximately 10 percent of their wages on telecom charges.
Lamenting the situation, the NLC President argued that for a worker earning the current minimum wage of ₦70,000, this means an increase from ₦7,000 to a staggering ₦10,500 per month or 15 percent of his salary is an unsustainable cost.
He said the hike exemplified the government’s apparent ease in prioritizing corporate profits over citizens’ welfare.
Ajaero continued: “It is shocking that the government approved this 50% tariff increase for telecom companies within a month, yet took nearly a year to approve the recent minimum wage for workers, despite the rising cost of living and inflation eroding purchasing power.
“This glaring disparity underscores a troubling reality: the government appears more aligned with the interests of wealthy corporations than with the needs of the workers and citizens it is meant to serve.
“We must ask: When will the government stand for the people it swore to protect? When will the National Assembly rise to its responsibility and hold the executive accountable for policies that blatantly undermine the welfare of the majority? When will the common man heave a sigh of relief in Nigeria?”
