The president of the National Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, claims that electricity tariffs and taxes are killing Nigerian workers.
Speaking to journalists during a meeting with government officials on Monday, Ajaero expressed discontent with the present tax regime, calling it “unbearable” for workers.
“…I want to use this particular meeting to put in our displeasure on the electricity tariff and the tax that is killing the workers now the tax regime, which is unbearable. So those are actions that are still on course, you know, until they are addressed. So that’s the summary of the meeting,” the NLC president said.
Ajaero‘s comments come amid ongoing talks between the federal administration and union leaders over the recent 50% hike in telecom pricing.
On January 20, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) authorised carriers to execute a 50 percent pricing increase.
The NLC had declared intentions to hold statewide protests on February 4 following the rise, citing mounting operational costs and inflation.
However, following a discussion with the federal administration on Monday, the congress agreed to postpone the protest for two weeks.
As part of the agreement, a 10-member committee, with five members from each side, was formed to study the tariff hike report and recommend remedies that address the concerns of both telecom operators and customers.
The committee is anticipated to present its conclusions within two weeks.
Speaking to press following the meeting, the NLC president regretted that labour was not consulted before the NCC approved the pricing increase.
Also speaking, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, stated that the government and labour had agreed to maintain conversation rather than engage in confrontation.
With the agreement, the minister stated that the scheduled protests would no longer be held.