The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced it halted its planned one-day demonstration against a 50 per cent spike in telecom charges to allow additional negotiation.
The NLC was set to commence the demonstration this morning across the 36 states of the country, including Abuja.

However, following a meeting with government officials at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Monday night, the NLC resolved to halt the demonstration pending further consultations.

Confirming the suspension of the protest and the reason behind it, NLC President Joe Ajaero said the meeting agreed to set up a wider committee to study the entire tariff structure.

He explained that the committee will be constituted of five officials from each sides and is anticipated to submit its conclusions within two weeks.

Ajaero added: “We emphasised that the NLC is the largest organisation in Africa, and no stakeholder consultation can exclude us and still stand. On that premise, they agreed to organize a bigger committee to ensure a fair and inclusive agreement to analyze the entire tariff system and develop a realistic and all-inclusive accord. So, the committee will be made up of five officials from both sides and is anticipated to report its conclusions after two weeks. That will determine the next course of action and the process of engagement. The symbolic step of sending the letters tomorrow will be put on wait until the outcome of the committee’s work.

“The outcome of the committee’s work will determine our next line of action in terms of protest, boycott, and even withdrawal of services, which are the three issues we have put forward.”

He added that the union’s next moves, including protests, boycotts, or service withdrawals, will rely on the committee’s findings.

While the intended symbolic submission of protest letters has been put on hold, Ajaero stated that the NLC remained worried about other pressing economic issues, including electricity pricing and hefty taxes on workers.

The NLC chief further said that the congress had expressed its discontent over the high electricity tariffs and the impending tax system.

He urged that all unsolved labour-related concerns must be handled.

In a communique released at the end of the conference, which was made available to The Guardian, a 10-man committee was formed to settle unsolved concerns.

It read in part: “Arising from the meeting convened by the Federal Government of Nigeria on the proposed 50 per cent hike in telecommunications tariffs in the country, which the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strongly opposed, citing its potential negative impact on Nigerian workers and the economy, with a threat to proceed with a one-day nationwide mass protest, the following resolutions were reached: That there is a need for the parties to sit together in a technical group to resolve most of the contentious issues raised during the discussion; consequently, a 10-man joint committee was set up, comprising five (5) representatives each from the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).”

The group was given two weeks, commencing from February 3, 2025, to finalize and submit its findings.

The NLC, therefore, asked Nigerians to be calm until the committee completes its duty.

The communique was signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; NLC President, Joe Ajaero; and the General Secretary of the NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja.