The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a directive to workers and willing members of the public to boycott telecommunication services, especially those offered by MTN, Globacom and Airtel from February 13 to month-end from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm daily.

The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the NLC in a communique signed by President of the Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, also called on workers and members of the public to suspend the purchase of data from the above named telecommunication companies, as it has become one of their greatest tools for exploiting Nigerians.

The NLC expressed disappointment at the implementation of 50 per cent increase on telecom services by the companies, despite an earlier agreement reached with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to allow the 10-man committee constituted to look into the matter before any final decision on the new telecom tariff structure.

While noting that the implementation was a betrayal of trust, the NLC added it was an affront to the principles of negotiation, and a direct slap on the government and its institutions and a disdain for Nigerian people. The communique partly read:

“The CWC-in-session believes that this is a further demonstration of regulatory capture and impotence in the midst of corporate onslaught and the continuing abandonment of workers and masses to corporate fat cats by the government.

“This unwarranted and premature tariff hike demands an immediate response from our collective resolve since government clearly favours the rich against the people.

“The CWC demands an immediate reversal of the tariff hike, which took effect today, and insists that the companies revert to the previous tariff until the committee completes its deliberations and reaches a conclusive agreement.

“As a first step in resisting this arbitrary tariff hike, the CWC has directed that, beginning (tomorrow) Thursday, February 13, Nigerian workers and other willing citizens shall boycott the services of MTN, Airtel, and GLO daily between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM until the end of February 2025.

“All workers and citizens are urged to suspend the purchase of data from these companies which has also become one of their greatest tools for exploiting Nigerian citizens.

We also demand the repatriation of all funds siphoned out of the country by these companies.

“If the telecommunications companies fail to revert to the old tariff by the end of February, a total shutdown of their operations nationwide will commence from March 1, 2025.

“All NLC State Councils are directed to commence immediate sensitisation and mobilisation of their members and the general public within their jurisdictions.

“All NLC affiliate unions are requested to mobilise their members across the country to observe electronic silence during the designated hours.

We implore all of our civil society allies, and other interested stakeholders to join us in making this action effective.”

These directives are coming two days to Valentine’s Day, a widely celebrated annual festival of love, friendship and admiration mostly expressed through phone calls, text messages and on various social media platforms through the use of telecommunication services.