Follow Us on Google
By Chukwuma Umeorah
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has placed its members and affiliate unions on red alert to resist any attempt to impose further increases in electricity tariffs and telecommunications charges across the country. The Congress vowed to mobilize for a nationwide protest should the government proceed with any plan to impose additional tariff hikes.
This follows resolutions reached at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union held in where the Congress rejected the ongoing reclassification of electricity consumers by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the recent 35 per cent hike in telecommunications tariffs.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a communiqué issued after the meeting, described the reclassification of electricity consumers from lower bands to Band A under the guise of improved service delivery as a “sham” aimed at extorting the masses. In his words, “This systematic exploitation, sanctioned by the Ministry of Power, is nothing short of economic violence against the working class and broader Nigerian populace,” Ajaero stated.
“It is evident that the ruling elite, acting as enforcers of global monopoly capital, are determined to further deepen the misery of the Nigerian people through incessant tariff hikes, increased taxation, and relentless economic strangulation. Whereas inflation has soared, wages remain stagnant, and the cost of living has become unbearable, the ruling class continues to transfer the burden of their fiscal irresponsibility onto the already impoverished working masses,” he lamented.
On the telecommunications tariff hike, Ajaero reaffirmed the Congress’ opposition to the increment, warning that any breach of the agreement reached on February 21, 2025, to reduce the initial proposal from 50 per cent to 35 per cent would be resisted. “The National Administrative Council (NAC) is mandated to immediately deploy all necessary instruments to enforce compliance in line with the February 10th, 2025, Central Working Committee (CWC) directive,” he declared.
Ajaero further warned that any attempt to announce further tariff increases would be met with mass resistance, urging workers to remain “resolute, organized, and uncompromising” in the collective struggle for economic justice. “Consequently, the Congress resolves to immediately mobilise for a nationwide protest should the Ministry of Power and NERC proceed with their exploitative plan to further hike electricity tariffs under any guise. The NLC shall not stand idly by while the Nigerian people are subjected to the unholy machinations of capitalist profiteers and their state collaborators,” he said.
Ajaero reiterated that no society can sustainably develop under a regime of ‘corporate plunder and neoliberal enslavement,’ adding that the Nigerian working people must, therefore, remain resolute, organized, and uncompromising in the collective struggle for a fair and equitable Nigeria.
