The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has disclosed plans to organise a nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, against the proposed 50 percent increase in telecom tariffs.

The nationwide demonstration was agreed upon during the ongoing National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting of the NLC.

The demonstration aims to send a strong message to the government that workers will oppose the planned increase, which would exacerbate poverty throughout the country.

It is important to note that on January 22, the NLC rejected the 50 percent increase in telecommunication tariffs that the Federal Government sanctioned via the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The NLC argued that approving such a significant tariff hike while Nigerian workers and the general populace are facing extraordinary economic challenges is a blatant attack on their well-being and a neglect of the people in favour of corporate interests.

In a statement titled "50% Telecom tariff hike: Another burden too harsh,' the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said: "The NLC expresses its unequivocal condemnation of the Federal Government's recent approval, through the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, of a 50 percent increase in telecommunication tariffs.

"This decision, coming at a time when Nigerian workers and the masses are grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, is a clear assault on their welfare and an abandonment of the people to corporate fat cats.