The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has issued a strong warning to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over its planned March 1 shutdown of telecommunication services in protest against the recent 50% tariff hike.
NSCDC spokesperson Babawale Afolabi confirmed that operatives have been deployed to telecom base stations nationwide to prevent any disruptions. He stressed that telecommunications are critical to national security and any attempt to shut them down could lead to security risks and criminal activities.
The NLC, led by President Joe Ajaero, announced plans to boycott telecom services—including MTN, Airtel, and Glo—daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout February. The union accused telecom operators of breaching public trust by implementing tariff increases before a government review panel completed its assessment.
However, the NSCDC maintained that any disruption to telecom services would be met with legal action. “We will not allow any action that compromises national security under the guise of protests,” Afolabi stated. He called for dialogue, emphasizing that past protests had been hijacked by hoodlums, leading to vandalism.
Telecom industry groups, including the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), also opposed the NLC’s plan. They argued that rising operational costs due to subsidy removal and economic factors necessitated the tariff increase.
PTECSSAN Secretary-General Abdullahi Okonu criticized the NLC for not consulting telecom workers before making its decision. Meanwhile, ATCON President Tony Emoekpere dismissed the protest as misguided, urging stakeholders to engage in discussions instead of resorting to industry shutdowns.
Despite these warnings, Lagos State NLC Chairperson Funmi Sessi rejected any threats from security forces. “No one can threaten us! If necessary, we will shut down electricity itself,” she declared, insisting that workers would not be intimidated.
The standoff between the NLC, the government, and telecom operators continues, with the possibility of further disruptions if an agreement is not reached before the end of February.
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