Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps Warns NLC Against Planned Telecom Shutdown Over Tariff Hike
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against its planned March 1 shutdown of telecommunications services in protest of the recent 50% tariff hike, citing national security concerns.
The NSCDC, responsible for protecting critical infrastructure, has deployed operatives to telecom base stations to prevent disruptions, emphasizing that any attempt to tamper with these facilities could expose the country to criminal activities. The NLC, accusing telecom operators of breaching public trust by implementing the tariff hike before a review panel concluded its deliberations, called for a boycott of major providers like MTN, Airtel, and Glo daily from February 13.
However, telecom unions and industry stakeholders, including the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), opposed the planned protest, arguing that the tariff increase was necessary due to rising operational costs, particularly following the fuel subsidy removal.
The NSCDC, under the directive of its Commandant-General, has ordered 24-hour surveillance at telecom facilities nationwide, warning that the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums, leading to vandalism and economic instability. It urged the NLC to reconsider its stance and resolve the issue through dialogue, stressing that any illegal action would be met with decisive legal consequences. Meanwhile, telecom unions criticized the NLC for acting without consulting industry stakeholders, asserting that a tariff review was essential to sustaining network operations.
