The Lagos chapter chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Funmi Sessi, has dismissed warnings from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps regarding their planned shutdown of telecommunication services on March
The NLC previously announced its intention to halt the operations of telecommunications companies nationwide unless the Nigerian Communications Commission reverses the 50 percent tariff hike by the end of February.
In a statement to The PUNCH on Sunday, NSCDC spokesman Babawale Afolabi said the agency has deployed operatives to telecommunication base stations to prevent any illegal actions by protesters.
He urged the NLC to reconsider its planned protest, warning that any disruption to telecom services could expose the country to criminal activities and compromise national security.
Afolabi emphasized that the agency would not tolerate any actions that could jeopardize the nation’s security. He stated, “The NSCDC commandant-general has directed state commandants to maintain round-the-clock surveillance around all telecommunication masts. There will also be a massive nationwide deployment of officers and personnel from the corps, including undercover and intelligence operatives, to maintain peace and protect all critical national assets and infrastructure from individuals who might exploit the planned protest to engage in criminal activities.”
In response to the warnings, Sessi, when asked by the publication, asserted that the Labour Congress would not be intimidated by threats. “No one can threaten us—no one! This is about our commonwealth, our shared heritage. Civil Defence officers are merely working for their pay, but they have no authority to dictate to us. If necessary, we will shut down the electricity itself! Who are they to tell us otherwise?” she declared.
She further criticized the security forces for attempting to intimidate workers, stating, “Let them threaten us all they want—nothing will stop us. We know the song we sing: how many people will the soldiers kill? Even the police should remember to remain civil. They cannot kill us all.”
