By Parrot Newspaper 
NLC Threatens Mass Resistance Over Proposed Electricity Tariff Hike
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the federal government to abandon any plans to increase electricity tariffs, vowing to mobilize mass resistance against such a move.
In a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, over the weekend, the NLC also threatened to shut down telecommunication operations if service providers fail to implement the agreed 35% tariff hike instead of the previously proposed 50%.
Rejection of Electricity Consumer Reclassification
The NLC strongly opposed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) ongoing reclassification of electricity consumers. The reclassification seeks to migrate customers from lower tariff bands to Band A, allegedly under the pretense of service improvement.
According to the communiqué signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emma Ugboaja, the move amounts to economic exploitation of Nigerian citizens.
“This systematic exploitation, sanctioned by the Ministry of Power, is nothing short of economic violence against the working class and broader Nigerian populace,” the statement read.
The NLC further accused the ruling elite of imposing policies that worsen economic hardship through tariff hikes, increased taxation, and a lack of wage adjustments despite soaring inflation and a high cost of living.
The NEC warned that any attempt to introduce new electricity tariff increases would trigger nationwide protests, as the Congress remains committed to resisting what it describes as an “unholy alliance between capitalist profiteers and their state collaborators.”
Telecoms Tariff Hike: NLC Demands Compliance
On the issue of telecommunication tariffs, the NLC emphasized that it had reached an agreement with the federal government on February 21, 2025, to reduce the proposed hike from 50% to 35%. The NEC warned that failure to implement this agreement by March 1, 2025, would lead to immediate action.
> “The National Administrative Council (NAC) is mandated to immediately deploy all necessary instruments to enforce compliance, in line with the February 10, 2025, Central Working Committee (CWC) directive,” the communiqué stated.
Labour Party Crisis: NLC Moves to Reclaim Party
The NLC also addressed concerns over the Labour Party’s (LP) leadership and direction. Describing the party as a creation of the NLC, the NEC criticized the “opaqueness” in its affairs and directed the NAC to explore rebranding, mergers, or coalitions to safeguard the interests of Nigerian workers.
“Congress will not allow the Labour Party to be hijacked by reactionary forces who do not represent the aspirations of the working people,” the NLC declared.
The statement reaffirmed the Congress’s commitment to ensuring the Labour Party remains a political platform dedicated to workers’ rights and socio-economic justice.
Call for Mass Action Against Anti-People Policies
The NLC concluded by urging all industrial unions, affiliates, and progressive allies to remain vigilant and prepared to resist government policies that further impoverish the masses.
“No society can sustainably develop under a regime of corporate plunder and neoliberal enslavement. The Nigerian working people must remain resolute, organized, and uncompromising in the struggle for a fair and equitable Nigeria,” the statement added.
As tensions rise over economic policies, the NLC’s stance signals a potential showdown with the government if its demands are not met. Nigerians now wait to see whether authorities will reconsider their position or face large-scale industrial action.