The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has ordered Nigerian workers and other citizens alike to boycott the services of MTN, Airtel and Glo between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. beginning from February 13 till the end of the month.
This comes after MTN on Tuesday increased its weekly 15 Gigabytes (GB) data plan from ₦2,000 to ₦6,000, representing 200 per cent increase. The company’s service hike also includes revised 1.8GB monthly plan for ₦1,500, which replaces the previous 1.5GB plan priced at ₦1,000, among others.
The Federal Government (FG) and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had on January 20, 2025 approved 50% hike in the cost of telecommunications services amid the economic challenges.
NLC expressed dissatisfaction following the development and called for protest, however, the action was suspended following a meeting with government representatives in Abuja some days ago.
Notwithstanding, the service providers implemented the increment amid the meeting with the government.
The union, in a communique signed by its President, Joe Ajaero and General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja on Tuesday condemned the hike, criticising the service providers for bypassing established procedures and ignoring the ongoing review by the 10-man committee.
NLC equally criticised the government for failing to protect the citizens against the increment, and threatened to disrupt the operations of service providers if the tariffs are not reversed before March 2025.
“All workers and citizens are urged to suspend the purchase of data from these companies, which has also become one of their greatest tools for exploiting Nigerian citizens.
“We also demand the repatriation of all funds siphoned out of the country by these companies. If the telecommunications companies fail to revert to the old tariff by the end of February 2025, a total shutdown of their operations nationwide will commence from 1 March 2025,” the Congress stated.
The NLC further directed its state councils to initiate immediate sensitisation and mobilisation efforts among members and the public, while also calling on affiliate unions to join the action.
