NLC Condemns Governors Over Telecom Tariff Hike

Governors of the thirty-states of Nigeria have been berated for not championing the welfare of the generality of Nigerians in the face of the approved fifty percent increase in telecoms tariffs.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Enugu State, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, stated this on Thursday while reacting to the development. He acknowledged that taxation is an aspect of government revenue generation, but decried its imposition on Nigerian citizens “without human face”.

He said, “Our challenge is the ill-management of the policy. NLC is saying that the proposed fifty percent on telecoms charges is beyond the capacity of average Nigerians considering our present circumstances.

“We are still battling with high cost of Band A and Band B electricity tariff patterns. We shall adopt all legitimate means to reverse this policy.

“Our leaders don’t want us to exist. Imagine that our governors, rather than protect the interest of the poor masses, are after the sharing formula of the proceeds from the tariff hike. We must collectively change the narrative.”

He urged the federal government and the Nigerian Communications Commission to consider the economic variables currently plaguing the country.

According to him, “It is amazing that telecom operators proposed 100 percent tariff increase, and in less than one week, an approval of fifty percent was granted, but minimum wage demands can last for decades.

FG should consider the plight of the citizens which they are supposed to protect. Even if they didn’t vote for them, our leaders ought to know that they are occupying their positions on the platform of the masses.”

Nwigbo accused government officials of living extravagantly, citing the renovation of the residence of the vice president at the Presidential Villa at about N22bn, purchase of a private jet for the presidential fleet and an array of expensive vehicles being displayed by political office-holders as examples of why Nigerians would not trust their leaders.

Recall that the NCC, a few days ago, announced a fifty percent hike for telecom operators in Nigeria.

According to NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, the approval was granted in pursuant to the commission’s power under Section 108 of the NCC Act, 2003, which empowers it to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecoms operators, and in response to prevailing market conditions. THE WHISTLER reports that some telecom operators allegedly requested a 100 per cent increment in tariff.

NLC, through its National President, Joe Ajero, had kicked against the hike, describing it as “a clear assault on Nigerians”.

NLC Condemns Governors Over Telecom Tariff Hike is first published on The Whistler Newspaper