The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its planned nationwide protest against the recent 50 percent increase in telecommunications tariffs.
This decision was reached after a crucial meeting between the labour union and a delegation from the Federal Government, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, on Monday, February 3. 
The meeting aimed to maintain industrial harmony and protect the interests of Nigerians, especially workers already burdened by economic hardship.
Following extensive deliberations, both parties agreed to set up a 10-man committee to review the study that led to the tariff hike, with five representatives from the government and five from the NLC.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who spoke on behalf of the Federal Government, emphasized the need for the committee to assess the findings of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) before any final decision is made.
He stated, “So, the summary of it is that Labour and the Nigerian Labour Congress specifically, and the delegation of the federal government, have set up a committee of five each. We are going to meet here continuously for the next two weeks.
And at the end of the second week, we will now come up with a recommendation that we will give to government and the organised Labour for final consideration.”
The NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, acknowledged the development, stating that the union would wait for the outcome of the committee before deciding on its next course of action.
The protest, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, had been declared by the NLC as a warning against the impact of the tariff increase on the Nigerian population.
The union had previously expressed concerns that such an increment would place additional strain on workers already struggling with rising inflation, increased fuel prices, and high electricity tariffs.
However, the government has assured that measures are being put in place to address the concerns raised by the NLC.
Furthermore, government officials, including the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijanni, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, were present at the meeting to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to resolve the issue amicably.
Meanwhile, labour leaders have urged the government to consider the economic realities faced by Nigerians before implementing policies that could further increase the cost of living.
However with the committee set to review the NCC’s findings, stakeholders are hopeful that a fair resolution will be reached.
The decision to suspend the protest provides an opportunity for dialogue, allowing both the government and the NLC to find a balanced solution that ensures workers and the general public are not unfairly burdened.
The outcome of the committee’s report in two weeks will determine the next steps regarding the telecom tariff hike.
