Nigeria's Telecom Tariff Drama: Where's The Promised Reduction?

Where’s That Tariff Cut? Silence from the Government and NCC

More than a month has passed since the federal government, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Organized Labour reached a deal to cut the proposed telecom tariff hike from 50% to 35%. But here’s the kicker: the promised 15% reduction? Still nowhere to be found. Both the government and the NCC have gone radio silent on this issue, leaving many Nigerians scratching their heads. Meanwhile, telecom companies like MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile have gone ahead and implemented the full 50% increase, with no signs of rolling back anytime soon.

The Pressure Mounts: Labour’s Fight Against Exploitative Tariffs

Back in the day, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) sounded the alarm on what they called an exploitative tariff hike, especially given the already tough economic climate and rising poverty levels in the country. Fearing the worst, the NLC threatened to shut down telecom operations altogether. This bold move caught the attention of the government and the NCC, who eventually agreed to scale back the hike from 50% to 35%. It seemed like a win for the people, but as we’re about to see, things aren’t always what they seem.

A Committee Is Born: Seeking a Solution

To tackle the issue head-on, the government formed a 10-person committee, evenly split between government reps and NLC members. Their mission? To deliberate on the tariff hike and come up with a report within two weeks. The hope was that this committee would provide some clarity and bring about a fair resolution. On February 21, 2025, after a marathon three-hour meeting at the National Security Adviser’s office, the committee agreed to a 15% reduction in tariffs. Everyone thought this was the breakthrough they had been waiting for. But then… crickets.

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The Silence Deafens: NLC Fumes Over Broken Promises

Despite the committee's agreement, no official announcement of the 15% reduction has been made. This has left NLC leaders fuming, accusing the government of pulling the wool over their eyes. They’re not just sitting around, though. The NLC is now planning direct action against the NCC and the telecom operators, with the date for industrial action already set—though they’re keeping it under wraps for now. One NLC leader spilled the beans to Vanguard, saying, “We thought we had this resolved over a month ago, but it seems like we’ve been scammed. We’re ready to take this head-on.”

The Deadline Looms: NLC’s Ultimatum

On February 12, 2025, the NLC let their frustration boil over, condemning the tariff hike as a betrayal of the earlier agreement with the government and the NCC. They demanded an immediate reversal of the hike, warning that if the telecom companies didn’t return to the old rates by the end of February, they’d face a nationwide shutdown starting March 1, 2025. To drive their point home, the NLC instructed workers and citizens to boycott MTN, Airtel, and Glo services daily between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. throughout February. In a communiqué following their Central Working Committee meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State, the NLC urged everyone to stop buying data from these companies, labeling them as tools of exploitation.

Signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emma Ugboaja, the communiqué directed NLC State Councils and union affiliates to mobilize and sensitize their members and the general public. The message is clear: the NLC is ready to take drastic measures if the telecom companies and the government don’t step up and honor their promises. As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on the government, the NCC, and the telecom operators. Will they deliver on their commitments, or will Nigerians see a full-scale shutdown of telecom services? Only time will tell.