Nigeria’s largest labour union has suspended a planned nationwide protest against a 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs and will engage in negotiations with the government to resolve the dispute within two weeks, both parties announced Tuesday.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which represents millions of workers, had scheduled a demonstration for Feb. 4 after rejecting the tariff hike approved by the telecoms regulator last month—the first such increase in over a decade.
Telecom operators cited rising operational costs driven by inflation nearing 35% and a weakening naira as reasons for the price hike. However, the NLC condemned the increase as “insensitive” and had threatened to boycott telecom services or stage a strike unless the government agreed to discussions.
The dispute underscores growing concerns over the rising cost of living in Africa’s most populous country, where President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms—including fuel subsidy removals, power tariff hikes, and currency devaluation—have intensified financial strain on households and businesses.
Following negotiations late Monday, the NLC and the government agreed to form a 10-member committee with equal representation to assess the tariff increase and recommend solutions by Feb. 17.
“The outcome of this committee will determine our next line of action in terms of protest, boycott, and even withdrawal of services,” NLC President Joe Ajaero told reporters.
Both parties have agreed to a “stay action,” suspending any further escalation of the dispute pending the committee’s findings.
