TUC Threatens Strike Over Planned 50% Telecom Tariff Hike
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has warned that it will not hesitate to take to the streets if the federal government does not reverse its recent decision to increase telecommunications rates by 50%.
The TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, made his position known on Thursday after a meeting of the union’s National Administrative Council (NAC) earlier in the day.The core of the TUC’s argument is its belief that the proposed tariff hike is merely a symptom of a larger problem of mismanagement of foreign exchange (FX) resources by the government.
“We know the root cause of the problem. If we know the root cause of the problem, why focus on the symptoms? Osifo questioned, stressing that “all the increments we are seeing today are actually symptoms of foreign exchange mismanagement. ”Every time the FAAC (Federal Allocation Committee) releases funds, there is a direct correlation between the release and the fall of the naira in the parallel market, something we first We were concerned. ‘The price of cars in dollars has not changed, but the exchange rate has worsened, making them more expensive in naira. ‘This is because we strongly believe that once the root causes are addressed, these symptoms will no longer be necessary. Asked if the unions will really “put down their tools” and strike if the federal government does not reverse its decision, Osifo said, “Yes! That’s right!” I replied. What we had today was a NAC meeting to bring sensitization. After that we have the CWC meeting and the NEC meeting. So it is the responsibility of the NEC of the TUC to determine the dates and set the next course of action.”
Osifo also acknowledged that while telecom operators are indeed plagued by high operating costs, the TUC believes that a more sustainable solution lies in the government providing the necessary economic stability to bring down these costs, rather than simply resorting to tariff increases.
The proposed increase in telecommunications tariffs has not only angered the TUC, but has also sparked concerns from other trade unions and civil society groups.
