MTN kicks against 14 ultimatum by labour

By allcitynews.ng

Worried by the threat of organised labour in telecommunication sector, under the umbrella of Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria of Nigeria (PTECSSAN), to paralyse it’s business activities nationwide, the management of MTN has denied the accusations.

Describing the accusations as baseless, the Chief Corporate Services Officer of MTN, Tobechukwu Okigbo, explained that with the way whereby MTN always deploy global best practice to it’s workers, the threat of 14 days ultimatum is not justifiable.

According to Okigbo,in the statement by Mr Funso Aina, the Senior Manager, External Relations made available to allcitynews.ng claimed that the allegations by labour are totally unsubstantiated.

He noted over the years, MTN has built a ‘people first’ culture that empowers its employees, values exclusivity and hard work and instils a responsibility for its customers and communities.

“This is what defines and unites us. MTN cares greatly about all its workers, deploying global best practice people solutions and policies that make MTN Nigeria a great place to work. We intentionally invest in our people. Indeed, MTN’s success in Nigeria is as a result of the hard work, commitment and dedication of all staff, guided by a strong culture of people management.

Our people/workforce are our most critical competitive advantage and a key differentiator in the marketplace so we take staff welfare, remuneration and career development seriously.

We have stringent policies in place that promote meritocracy and protect our employees from all forms of harassment and discrimination and creates a workplace where employees feel valued and safe.”

It would be recalled that the organised labour, under the aegis of Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) 11th August 2020 accused the management of MTN of placing over 70 per cent of its workers on casual despite the huge profits the firm is making in Nigeria.

The General Secretary of the union, Comrade Okonu Abdullahi blaming MTN on many anti-labour issues said “The Chief Executive Officer of the Company whose priority should be organisational growth and sustainability which ought to make workers’ welfare, concerns and grievances paramount has abandoned this vital responsibility. He has rebuffed several calls by the workers and their Union representatives to meet with him on critical issues facing workers in the company.”

Reading the text signed by the General Secretary, Comrade Okonu Abdullahi Reading from the prepared statement signed by both the General Secretary, Comrade Okonu Abdullahi and the Deputy General Secretary Comrade  Felix Osagie, PTECSSAN vowed to use MTN as first point of war against anti-workers’ activities because the management have failed to meet the demand of labour after several attempts to amicably resolve the issue.

“Non-payment of severance benefits at the point of departure of employees after long years of dedicated and uninterrupted services to the company has become a  deep frustration practice to the long guarantees for workers in MTN.

Accordingly, the union noted that as leaders in the telecommunication sector in Nigeria, it is duty bound to seek the protection of the interest s of workers within the sector.

PTECSSAN is therefore committed to ensuring that all necessary steps no matter how painful it may to compel the management of MTN to treat it’s employees fairly and within the dictates of our laws.

Also, the union, one of the affiliates of NLC accused MTN of practicing an unwholesome, insensitive and discriminatory structure in the emoluments of some categories of workers. Workers on the same job level earn disproportionately. In many cases members of a team earn more than their team leads and even more than their direct managers.