NLC Calls for Boycott of MTN, Airtel, and GLO Over 50% Tariff Hike

NLC Calls for Boycott of MTN, Airtel, and GLO Over 50% Tariff Hike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged Nigerian workers and citizens to boycott the services of major telecom providers — MTN, Airtel, and GLO — in response to a 50% tariff hike. Starting Thursday, February 13, 2025, the NLC is calling for a daily boycott from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, continuing until the end of February.

This action follows the recent implementation of a 50% tariff increase approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which took effect on Monday. The tariff hike directly affects end users of telecom services, and the NLC is demanding that the telecom giants reverse the adjustment until further discussions can take place.

At the conclusion of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State, the NLC released a communique urging telecom companies to halt the price increase. The Congress emphasized that the tariff hike is a form of exploitation for Nigerian citizens, particularly with the growing reliance on data services.

The communique, signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, reads: “The CWC demands an immediate reversal of the tariff hike, which took effect today, and insists that the companies revert to the previous rates until the committee completes its deliberations and reaches a conclusive agreement.”

As part of the protest, the NLC has directed that workers and citizens suspend purchasing data from these companies, calling it one of the significant ways telecom companies exploit Nigerians. The boycott will remain in effect until February 28, 2025.

This call for action aims to bring attention to the steep tariff increase and prompt telecom providers to reconsider the financial burden placed on their customers.