Telecoms Tariff Hike: Nigerians Worry Over Discordant Tunes By NLC, TUC

…Say People No Longer Trust Labour Leaders

…Labour Centres Urged To Synergise More

…Insist Planned Hike Anti-Masses

LAGOS – Nigerians have come hard on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for backing out of a planned nationwide protest against increase in tariff on tele­communication services.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Telecommunication Commission (NCC) recently gave approval to telecommunica­tion companies operating in the country to hike their tariffs by 50 percent, an action which has been roundly condemned by the citizens given the poor economy, poverty and hunger in the land arising from the Federal Govern­ment’s economic policies.

However, the citizens whose hopes had been aroused by the NLC’s plan to stage a protest over the planned hike, were tak­en aback a few days ago when the Labour Centre dramatical­ly withdrew the plan following a trouble shooting overture by the Federal Government for di­alogue.

An emergency meeting be­tween the NLC leaders and the government resulted in the set­ting up of a 10-man ad hoc com­mittee to examine all the issues relating to the planned hike.

Incidentally, as the NLC and the government were meeting, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) gave the government an ultima­tum to stop the planned tariff hike, and called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to exer­cise proper control of the Naira to stabilise the economy and check unnecessary hike in costs of goods and services.

Professor John Ebhomien, an economist and financial expert, who spoke to Sunday Indepen­dent on the issue, stated: “The decision by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to withdraw its planned protest against the Nige­rian Communications Commis­sion (NCC) over the approved 50% tariff hike for telecom ser­vices raises serious concerns.”

Prof. Ebhomien, former World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) consultant, said: “It begs the question: Why would the NLC embark on such a pro­test without first exhausting rele­vant consultations and collective bargaining dynamics with the appropriate authorities?

“Sincerely speaking, both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) must put their houses in order to ensure better service delivery with a high sense of responsibility.

“They should adopt strategic and diagnostic approaches when making decisions on critical na­tional issues.

“As a matter of priority, the NLC and TUC must work to strengthen their credibility and regain the confidence of Nige­rians.

“Above all, they should care­fully consider all factors before making crucial decisions that impact the nation.”

Julius Adegunna, a media executive, stated: “What we sow, we will all reap. We were all in Nigeria when NLC was asking for over 1,000% salary increase, of which at the end, the govern­ment settled for about 125%.

“We are also living witnesses to the astronomical inflationary trends in Nigeria in the last two years. Everything has been af­fected, mostly all factors of pro­duction.

“It must be believed that the Telecom Companies would be equally, if not more affected.

“My thinking is that our la­bour unions should not be very selfish. They should think of oth­ers when responding to issues.

“They should also be available to make positive contributions when policies are made.

“Rather than always thinking of strike actions, they should also work on alternative solutions.

“A rational approach to any increase in prices is to reduce or moderate our consumption. We must avoid wasteful expenses at all levels.

“The truth is that Nigerians do not take NLC and their strike threats seriously again. I think, seeing the handwriting on the wall, they had to rethink, to with­draw their protest.”

Bishop Herbert Ekechukwu, an economist and clergyman, speaking on the implications of NLC’s withdrawal from planned protest over 50% hike in telecom tariff, stated: “We do not need to be told that planned hike will increase financial burden on the masses who are already strug­gling with high cost of living.

“Secondly, this will cause a re­duction of access to telecom ser­vices, particularly to low income households and individuals.

“Higher tariffs will generate more income to big-time players and more domination in the in­dustry.

“A more disturbing and dan­gerous development on this is the declining influence of the Nigeri­an Labour Congress (NLC) over national issues.

“It is going to negatively im­pact the effectiveness of future protests and negotiations be­tween the NLC and government and its agencies.”