The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned against the Nigeria Labour Congress’ (NLC) planned shutdown of telecommunication services on March 1, citing risks to national security.
To prevent disruptions, NSCDC operatives have been deployed to telecom facilities nationwide. Spokesman Babawale Afolabi stated that the corps would not allow any actions that could compromise critical infrastructure.
The NLC had announced a nationwide boycott of major telecom providers including MTN, Airtel, and Glo, between 11 am and 2 pm daily, starting February 13, in protest of the Nigerian Communications Commission’s 50% tariff hike.
The union argued that the increase was unjustified and violated an earlier agreement to conduct a review before implementation.
However, industry stakeholders, including the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), criticised the planned action.
PTECSSAN Secretary-General Abdullahi Okonu accused the NLC of acting without consulting telecom workers, while ATCON President Tony Emoekpere argued that rising operational costs made the tariff hike inevitable.
Despite warnings from security agencies, Lagos NLC Chairperson Funmi Sessi insisted that the protest would go ahead, dismissing threats from law enforcement. She asserted that workers would not be intimidated and warned of broader industrial actions if necessary.
The NSCDC has placed its personnel on high alert and cautioned against any attempts to vandalise telecom infrastructure. It urged the NLC to resolve the dispute through dialogue, warning that legal action would be taken against any unlawful disruptions.
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