The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called off its planned nationwide protest against the proposed 50% hike in telecommunications tariffs following an agreement with the Federal Government.
NLC general secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja announced the suspension in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, addressing all state councils and affiliates.
The protest, originally scheduled to be held at Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) offices nationwide, was in response to the proposed tariff increase.
According to Ugboaja, the Federal Government’s invitation to a meeting resulted in the formation of a 10-member committee to address key issues raised by the Congress.
“As a result, our protest has already achieved success, as the government has conceded to some of our demands without the need for an actual demonstration,” Ugboaja said.
He commended NLC members for their solidarity and assured them of continued engagement with the government to address lingering concerns.
The suspension follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and the NLC during the meeting convened to address the tariff hike.
The MoU was signed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume; Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi; NLC President, Joe Ajaero; and Ugboaja.
Key resolutions included the formation of a joint technical committee with five representatives each from the Federal Government and the NLC. The committee has been tasked with concluding its deliberations and submitting a report within two weeks.
The parties urged Nigerians to remain calm while the committee works to resolve outstanding issues.
The NLC had initially declared a one-day mass protest for February 4 in response to the proposed tariff increase.