In the bid to avert tomorrow’s nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its civil society allies against the 50 per cent hike in telecommunications tariffs, the Federal Government has summoned labour leaders to a meeting today.
The meeting is also to discuss NLC’s opposition to the N8 billion government budgetary allocation for electricity bill sensitization which the labour movement described as the height of profligacy, wastefulness and corruption.
A source from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) which is hosting the meeting, told newsmen that the meeting was scheduled to commence at 5 pm.
The source said the meeting was a “dialogue on matters of national interest as it affects the Nigerian workers.”
According to the source, it will be an inter-ministerial meeting with the SGF purposely to resolve issues raised by NLC concerning the federal government’s approved upward adjustments to telecommunications tariff which NLC, its allies and others are vehemently opposing.
NLC is already galvanizing workers for a mass protest tomorrow (February 4) against the 50 per cent tariff hike approval.
“The meeting will also discuss the N8billion proposed budgetary allocation in 2025 for electricity bill sensitization by the federal government. And because there are other meetings already fixed by the government for Monday, the meeting had to be fixed for 5 pm after the FEC meeting,’’ the source said.
Sources in the NLC indicated that its leaders would attend the meeting and hear what government had to say but insisted that “there is no way we will accept the 50 per cent telecommunications tariffs hike.”
Recall that NLC had on Thursday, written to its affiliate unions and state councils to ensure total and full mobilization of workers and allies for the protest against the planned 50 per cent telecommunications tariff hike.
In a separate letter, dated January 30, to the affiliate unions and state councils, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, urged them to also mobilise other Nigerians to send a serious message to the government.
VANGUARD
