The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government that it will embark on mass action if the recently proposed increases in telecommunication tariffs and the reclassification of electricity consumers are implemented without adherence to prior agreements.
The latest decision was reached during the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Yola, Adamawa State.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NLC directed all its affiliates and industrial unions to prepare for decisive action should the government proceed with the contentious tariff adjustments.
The congress accused the Federal Government of reneging on agreements reached by a 10-man committee set up to resolve the telecommunications tariff dispute.
According to the NLC, the committee had agreed to reduce the initial 50 percent hike to 35 percent before telecommunications operators denied such agreement.
“We shall not hesitate to mobilize for mass action if the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) fail to adhere to the agreed terms,” the statement read. “Any attempt to impose arbitrary tariffs on Nigerians will be met with stiff resistance.”
Speaking anonymously, two senior executives from major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) said they were unaware of any directive to reduce the tariff hike to 35 per cent.
One executive said, “We are equally as confused as you are! Nobody has communicated the 35 percent reduction in tariff to us. As far as we are concerned, we just heard about it—no formal communication yet from the Federal Government.”
The operators further argued that the proposed tariff slash would be unsustainable, citing rising operational costs and losses.
“What we asked for was a 100 percent increase initially, but we got 50 percent, which was not even enough. Slashing it to 35 per cent without considering the economic realities is unfair,” another executive said.
Compounding the tension is the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) plan to reclassify electricity consumers, a move that the NLC has outrightly rejected.
The reclassification, which seeks to migrate consumers to higher billing bands under the pretext of service improvement, was described by the NLC as a ploy to impose “unjustified bills” on Nigerians.
Dominic Igwebike, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), condemned the reclassification as “economic violence against the working class and broader Nigerian populace.” In a separate statement, Igwebike accused the Ministry of Power of sanctioning a systematic exploitation of consumers.
“The NEC unequivocally rejects the ongoing sham reclassification of electricity consumers by NERC,” the statement read. “This systematic exploitation, sanctioned by the Ministry of Power, is nothing short of economic violence against the working class and broader Nigerian populace.”
The NLC’s NEC further warned that any attempt to announce additional increases in electricity tariffs would trigger nationwide protests.
The congress accused the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, of overstepping his regulatory boundaries by attempting to implement tariff adjustments without due consultation.
“It is worrisome that the Minister of Power appears to be usurping the statutory role of NERC, which is responsible for regulating the electricity sector,” an NLC official told Investors King. “This overreach must be resisted to prevent the arbitrary imposition of anti-people policies.”
The NLC’s call to action reflects broader discontent among Nigerians over the rising cost of living, driven by a series of recent price hikes in fuel, electricity, and telecommunications services.
Many Nigerians view the proposed tariff adjustments as yet another blow to household incomes already stretched thin by inflation and stagnant wages.
