By Our Reporter
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has rejected the planned 50 percent increase in telecom tariff, proposing instead a 5 per cent increment.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily Programme on Thursday, NLC spokesman, Benson Upah, suggested that the tax was one too many and wondered where the ordinary Nigerian will be at the end of the day.
“They keep on emasculating us through stupid taxes. It will come to a point when people can pay but they won’t pay. This really is to halt this mindless tariff increase. And if by any chance there has to be an increase at all, 5%, given the fact of our situation that there have been increases across the board.
“But now to say 50%, it is not going to work. Where will the ordinary Nigerians be at the end of the day when we have energy tariff increases?” he said.
Consequently, NLC has pledged to go ahead with its protest against the planned 50 percent tariff hike in telecom, and has written to its affiliate unions and state councils to ensure total and full mobilisation of workers and allies ahead of the February 4, 2025.
Ugboaja said the nationwide protest was the only way labour could resist the excessive tariff and drive home their displeasure.
“The manufacturers are groaning, the middle-class people are groaning. The ordinary Nigerians on the streets can’t even afford to turn on the lights in their sitting rooms. When taxes are low, more people than when you have high taxes,” he added.