Telecoms union lauds NLC for suspending protest against 50% tariff hike

The Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has described as commendable, Nigeria Labour Congress decision to suspend its Tuesday’s planned protest over the approved 50 per cent increase in telecommunications tariffs.

The association’s Secretary-General, Mr Abdullahi Okonu, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Tuesday that the union, as a major stakeholder, was knowledgeable about issues in the sector.

Okonu said that the cost of resources needed to make telecommunications services available to the masses had increased.

“The only logical thing is for the government to allow us to increase the tariff in order to meet up with the cost of running business and, at the same time, make profits,” he said.

The secretary-general also said that the increase was needed to prevent the collapse of the telecommunications sector and save jobs.

“We do not want a situation where workers in the private telecommunications sector will lose their jobs.

“Where companies are struggling to meet up with running costs, of course, the first thing they will look at is how to reduce their overhead costs by sacking workers, which we do not want.

“Our members should be protected and their jobs should be protected.

“Also, if the telecommunications sector is allowed to collapse, definitely, it will have a negative impact on other sectors,” he said.

The Chairman of NLC, Lagos State Council, Mrs Funmi Sessi, told NAN that the council had already mobilised its members for the protest, but had to suspend it following a meeting between NLC and the Federal Government.

Sessi called on the committee set up following the meeting to come up with reasonable reduction from the 50 per cent increase.

“We appeal to the government to alleviate the financial burden of Nigerians,” she said.

NAN reports that NLC had suspended its planned nationwide protest against 50 per cent increase in telecommunications tariffs after the meeting a Federal Government representatives.

It agreed to negotiate with the Federal Government and resolve the dispute within two weeks.

NAN