*The Organised Labour leaders, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, demand an immediate reduction of the approved 50 percent tariff increments to 35 percent, salary adjustments for workers in line with the current economic realities, and withdrawal of the Tax Reforms Bills currently in the National Assembly, Abuja

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

As Nigerians join the rest of the global community to commemorate the 2025 Workers’ Day (May Day) Thursday, May 1, 2025, the Organised Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to revisit the recently approved 50 percent tariff hikes in the telecommunications sector.

The Labour leaders, in their joint address on the occasion of the commemoration of the 2025 May Day, held at the Eagle Square, in Abuja, FCT, demanded an immediate reduction from the 50 percent tariff increases, which the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had approved for telecoms companies, in January this year, to 35 percent.

Comrades Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, Presidents of NLC and TUC respectively, in their demands during the May Day celebration Thursday, also petitioned the Federal Government to withdraw the Tax Reforms Bills currently before the National Assembly (NASS).

The workers said this move would allow them to sit at the table where it is being conceived and considered before approval.

The leadership of the NLC and TUC argued that the Tax Reforms Bills were crafted without their inputs, as they impose a burden on workers while letting the rich and corporations off the hook.

The Labour leaders, among other demands, called for an immediate salary adjustment that is commensurate with the current economic realities in the country.

One of the Labour leaders answering reporters’ questions at the Eagle Square, in Abuja

Other demands by the Labour are immediate payment of all their outstanding allowances, pensions and gratuities; restoration of gratuity payments; upward review of retirement age; automatic adjustment of pensions to reflect inflationary trends in the Nigerian economy.

They equally urged the Federal and state governments to halt actions that erode the civic space and deepen it for the sake of Nigeria.

They equally demanded democratic accountability, built on transparent governance, electoral reforms, and an end to the suppression of dissent.

Labour urged the Federal Government to end what it calls the genocidal killings and bloodletting across the country.

The Organised Labour asserted that the number one duty of the government is to ensure the safety of lives and property of Nigerians.

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