Federal Government Reduces Telecom Tariff Hike After Public Pressure

The Federal Government has decided to reduce the recent increase in telecommunications tariffs following intense pressure from organized labour and the public. The tariff hike, initially set at 50 percent, will now be lowered to 35 percent.

This decision was reached after a meeting between government officials and representatives of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) at the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) on Friday. The discussions were part of broader efforts to address growing concerns over the rising cost of telecom services.

Sources indicate that an official announcement on the tariff reduction is expected soon from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The move comes in response to weeks of backlash from labour unions and consumers, who criticized the increase as excessive and unfairly burdensome.

The NLC had firmly opposed the tariff hike, rejecting it outright on February 12, despite an earlier agreement between the government and telecom regulators. The union argued that the increase would disproportionately impact low-income earners who rely on mobile communication for business and daily activities.

In protest, the NLC issued an ultimatum demanding that telecom operators revert to the old tariff structure by the end of February 2025. The union also threatened to shut down telecom operations nationwide from March 1, 2025, if their demands were not met.