By OFFOR CALLISTUS, Abuja-
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) have successfully resolved a labour dispute that risked paralysing Nigeria’s telecommunications network.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the NCC’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, the commission announced that their intervention prevented a potential collapse of critical communication infrastructure.
The crisis stemmed from a planned strike by the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), which threatened to cut off diesel supplies to telecom sites across the country.
Such a disruption would have severely impacted telecom operators’ ability to power diesel generators, jeopardising network connectivity, economic operations, and national security.
The ONSA, led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, engaged NOGASA’s leadership to highlight the dire consequences of service interruptions, resulting in the strike’s suspension.
The NSA was quoted as saying, “Telecommunications infrastructure is the backbone of our connectivity and digital economy. Any disruption… has far-reaching implications for service delivery, economic stability, and national security.”
NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, emphasised the commission’s commitment to enforcing compliance with technical standards for telecom infrastructure maintenance.
He stated, “We recognise mediation as an effective tool for building consensus among stakeholders. This resolution underscores the importance of dialogue in preventing avoidable service disruptions.”
Maida further urged Nigerians to view telecom infrastructure as a vital national asset, essential for connectivity, business, healthcare, education, and participation in the global digital economy.
Maida praised the ONSA’s leadership and commended stakeholders for their cooperation in safeguarding these critical facilities.
