The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has warned of a potential strike if telecom tariffs are increased by 50%, citing concerns over the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on service costs.
TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, made this statement during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday.
While acknowledging the rising operational costs faced by telecommunications companies, Osifo attributed the issue to foreign exchange mismanagement.
“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,” Osifo said. He emphasized that the devaluation of the naira has adversely affected multiple sectors, resulting in widespread price hikes.
Osifo revealed that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has already held discussions on the matter, while the National Executive Council (NEC) of the TUC is expected to decide the next steps.
He urged the government to address the root cause of foreign exchange instability rather than shift the burden onto consumers. “We strongly believe that if the root cause is addressed, there will be no need for these symptoms to prop up,” he stated.
When asked if the TUC would proceed with a strike if the federal government fails to intervene, Osifo responded unequivocally, “Yes. Correct.” This stance underscores the TUC’s determination to protect consumers from what it views as avoidable tariff increases.