Telecom tariff hike: Planned strike, nationwide protest will hold – TUC

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has confirmed that it has not abandoned its planned strike action in response to the recent increase in telecommunication tariffs.

The union stated that its members will participate in a nationwide protest to protest against the insensitive tariff hike, which will only exacerbate the already dire living conditions faced by citizens.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, TUC President Festus Osifo highlighted the struggles of citizens who are living hand-to-mouth due to the recent telecom tariff hike. Osifo attributed the increase to mismanagement of foreign exchange, a problem he believes the government can easily address.

While recognizing the challenges faced by telecommunication companies in a difficult business environment, Osifo emphasized that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure a fair and balanced solution.

According to him, “Government has the tools and wherewithal to be able to manage the landscape to ensure that the cost of doing business goes down. And one of the ways is that exchange rate because that is the root cause of the problem.”

Asked what ultimatum they are giving to the Nigerian government, he added, “The NAC [TUC, which is like the National Working Committee] has met today. After that, we’ll have the Central Working Committee meeting, and we also have the NEC.

“So at the NEC, we’ll take the final decision. So the NAC was the one that met today.

“All we are saying is that if you allow your currency to slide, it will affect all of us.

He added, “We are completely apolitical. For one, I don’t belong to any political party; I’ve said that severally, so we look for what is in the best interest of the Nigerian workers and Nigerians in general.

“We started shouting about this early last year; if our exchange rate is better managed, at the end you are going to see that there is no need for that increment.”

Asked if the TUC is proceeding with an industrial action, he said, “Absolutely,” adding that they will “down tools and go to the streets.”

He said the NEC of TUC has the responsibility to give a date for the strike.