NSCDC Warns NLC Against Telecom Shutdown Over Tariff Hike, Urges Dialogue

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Sunday issued a stern warning to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) regarding its planned March 1 shutdown of telecommunications services. The move follows the NLC’s protest against the recent 50% tariff hike imposed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

NSCDC spokesman, Babawale Afolabi, told The PUNCH that operatives had been deployed to telecom base stations across the country to prevent any illegal actions. The agency, which is responsible for protecting critical national infrastructure, raised concerns that the NLC’s proposed action could compromise national security and public safety, potentially opening the door to criminal activities.

The NLC had announced plans to boycott telecom services from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, starting February 13, and to shut down telecom infrastructure by March 1 if the tariff hike was not reversed. The union accused telecom operators of breaching public trust by implementing the hike before the conclusion of a review panel’s deliberations.

In response, Afolabi warned that any disruption to telecom services could result in vandalism, with intelligence suggesting that the protest could be hijacked by miscreants. He emphasized that the NSCDC was fully prepared to take action to safeguard national assets and ensure the protection of critical infrastructure.

The NSCDC’s position was echoed by the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), both of which criticized the planned protest. PTECSSAN argued that the tariff increase was necessary to prevent the collapse of the telecom industry, citing rising operational costs due to the removal of fuel subsidies. ATCON President Tony Emoekpere also rejected the planned boycott, highlighting that the challenges faced by the telecom industry were not unique and affected other sectors as well.

In contrast, Lagos State NLC Chairperson Funmi Sessi rejected the NSCDC’s warnings, asserting that Labour would not be intimidated by threats and would continue its fight for the people’s welfare.