The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has issued a warning that it will embark on a nationwide strike if telecommunications tariffs are increased by 50%, citing concerns over the adverse effects of foreign exchange fluctuations on service costs.
TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, made this declaration during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels TV program, on Thursday.
While acknowledging the rising operational costs faced by telecom providers, Osifo argued that the fundamental issue lies in the mismanagement of foreign exchange rather than service expenses.
“If you know what the root cause of the problem is, why would you start looking at the symptoms? All the increments we are seeing today are symptoms of FX mismanagement,” he stated.
He further emphasized that the devaluation of the naira has had a ripple effect across various sectors, leading to a surge in prices. Osifo revealed that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has already deliberated on the issue, while the National Executive Council (NEC) of the TUC is set to decide on the next steps.
The union leader urged the government to tackle the root cause of foreign exchange instability rather than shifting the burden onto consumers through tariff hikes.
“All we are asking is that we sit down and address the root cause because we strongly believe that if this issue is resolved, there will be no need for these increases,” he added.
When asked if the TUC would proceed with industrial action should the government fail to intervene, Osifo firmly responded: “Yes. Correct.”
