•Scrapping TETFund’ll be catastrophic for our varsities -Wabba
From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide protest against the Federal Government’s planned 50 percent increase in telecom tariffs.
It will be held on Tuesday, February 4, as part of the union’s mobilisation efforts to resist what it described as an unjust and unbearable burden on Nigerians.
The decision was reached at the ongoing National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting, where labour leaders resolved to send a strong message to the government against policies that could further deepen the economic hardship faced by millions.
The NLC had previously rejected the proposed tariff hike on January 22, following its approval by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
In a statement titled: “50 percent telecom tariff hike: Another burden too harsh!” NLC President, Joe Ajaero, condemned the move, describing it as a betrayal of Nigerians in favor of corporate interests.
He criticised the timing of the decision, arguing that Nigerian workers and the general public are already struggling under severe economic hardship. He pointed out that the average Nigerian worker spends around 10 percent of their salary on telecom services, and with the new hike, this figure could rise to 15 percent, an unsustainable cost for many.
“It is shocking that the government swiftly approved a 50 percent tariff increase for telecom companies within a month, yet took nearly a year to approve the new minimum wage for workers. This disparity highlights a troubling reality—the government seems more interested in protecting corporate profits than prioritizing the welfare of its citizens.”
The NLC leader questioned when the National Assembly would step in to hold the executive accountable for policies that undermine the well-being of the majority. He urged lawmakers to intervene and halt the implementation of the tariff hike to allow for proper negotiations that consider the interests of Nigerian workers and citizens.
Ajaero hinted of possible mass action beyond the February 4 protest, including a nationwide boycott of telecom services, if the government fails to reverse the decision.
“This is a fight for our dignity, our rights, and our survival as a people. The NLC remains resolute in defending the interests of Nigerian workers and the masses. We will not allow policies that deepen poverty and inequality to stand unchallenged,” he declared.
The planned protest is expected to draw mass participation as Nigerians grapple with rising inflation, increased fuel prices, and general economic hardship.
Meanwhile, former NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, has condemned plans to scrap the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), warning that such a move would have devastating consequences for Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.
One of the recommendations in the tax reform bills under consideration at the National Assembly is the proposed reduction of allocations to TETFund, which has been instrumental in supporting public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria.
According to the bill, starting in 2025, only 50 percent of the Education Tax will be allocated to TETFund, with the remaining funds redirected to other initiatives, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Additionally, the bill outlines plans for the complete phasing out of TETFund by 2030, with all proceeds from the education tax to be redirected to NELFUND.
Speaking at the National Leadership Retreat organised by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in Abuja, Wabba said TETFund has been the backbone of funding for critical infrastructure and staff training in tertiary institutions.
According to Wabba, scrapping the fund would be disastrous because the Nigerian budget system is already inadequate and unable to fully cater to the needs of universities.
“For some time now, the major funding to our universities and other tertiary institutions is actually from TETFund, especially critical infrastructures that are needed in those universities, because those infrastructures are dilapidated. Even the issue of training or retraining of the manpower in the university system, at a point, TETFund had to intervene. And therefore, it is a major pillar that is today sustaining our university system,” he said.
He noted that even state governors have opposed the scrapping of TETFund, alongside trade unions, which recognize its vital role in sustaining higher education.
“The budget system is already limited, and there are many competing demands. But education is critical, and in the past, it used to be one of the government’s top priorities. We need to return to the basics and continue to strengthen TETFund because they are doing a good job.”
On the issue of labour disputes and the declining appeal of strikes, Wabba pointed to the need for strong collective bargaining as a solution.
“In the decent work agenda of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), of which Nigeria is a member country, one of the major provisions to achieve decent work in countries around the world, is the issue of prioritising collective bargaining. Collective bargaining means once unions have grievances at all levels, be it at the branch level, or at the national level, the government should be able to bring them to the table and reach an agreement in good faith, and that agreement should be implemented. That’s the only way out, because even workers do not like going on strike. It’s a matter of last resort.
“Strikes cannot be completely eroded, because some employers are very critical and basically they don’t see anything good in workers. But workers are the engine room of the economy; they create the wealth that even politicians rely on. Their concerns must be taken seriously,” he asserted.
Regarding concerns about internal sabotage within labour unions, Wabba stated that unions have well-established mechanisms to address both internal and external challenges. He stressed that maintaining unity within unions is essential for protecting workers’ interests.
On reports that some workers received reduced salaries this month, Wabba stated that he had not received formal complaints but advised affected workers to report the matter to their unions.
“If any worker’s salary has been reduced, they should first report to their union. We have unions in all sectors to protect workers’ interests. Because the issue of salary is actually a legal agreement between an employer and a worker. And there is no way an employer unilaterally will reduce the salary of a worker. That is illegal, and that should not be acceptable ,” he stated.
Wabba assured that unions would take up any such complaints and escalate them to labour centers for appropriate action.