NLC, NUPTE, picket MTN offices in Oyo, Kano, Abia, Bayelsa, others

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigerian Union of Postal and Telecommunications Employee (NUPTE), on Monday picketed MTN offices in Kano, Bauchi, Abia, Bayelsa, Oyo, Ogun over alleged exploitation of workers and non-unionism in the company.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NLC members who stormed the office at Civic Centre in Kano as early 6:30 am were led by the Chairman of the union, Kabiru Ado Minjibir.

NAN reports that during the picketing, activities at the MTN office were completed grounded as workers were prevented from doing their work by the protesters.

The (NLC) in Ogun State, on Monday also locked up all MTN outlets in the state.

This development was as a result of the directive of its national body that all MTN offices in the country should be locked for three days, following what it described as “modern-day slavery” on the part of the telecommunication network provider.

The State Chairman of the union, Comrade Akeem Ambali and some members of the labour body besieged the Oke-Ilewo headquarter of MTN and sealed it, saying the network provider refused the unionised its staff,  which according to him was against the Labour Law of the country.

He said that the company through its anti-labour law policies limit the career progression of its staff and also engaged in casualisation of workers.

“This action was carried out for the deliberate refusal of MTN to unionised their members, we see the action as an attempt to enslave them.

“We also know that there are so many anti-labour policies being implemented by MTN, denying people’s right to association, denying them regular promotion, casualisation of workers and deliberate policy of limiting the career progression of Nigerian MTN workers.

“This action is three days warning for MTN and other telecommunications companies in Nigeria and if within three days they failed to meet up with our demands, we shall press for seven days closed down,” the union leader added.

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During picketing, the NLC members carried placards with various inscriptions such as ‘respect rule of law’, `we say no to casualisation’ and `workers’ rights must be protected among others’.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abia, Mr Uchenna Obigwe, said on Monday that workers of the Mobile Telecommunications Nigeria (MTN) must join labour in order to benefit from the proposed minimum wage.

Obigwe said this while addressing newsmen in Umuahia when he led members of the Congress in the state to picket MTN offices in Umuahia and Aba.

He decried the engagement of workers by the company on the casual basis, adding that NLC was not in support of the ban against unionism by MTN management.

“For over 10 years, we have been holding consultation with the management of MTN to allow it’s workers participate in unionism but nothing has happened to date.

“This means that there is no job security and workers lack the power to negotiate for their welfare.

“Furthermore, as NLC is negotiating for the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers, if it is approved, it means that MTN workers would not benefit,” he said.

The Abia NLC boss said that labour was disturbed by the poor wages paid to workers of the telecom company.

He called on the regulatory agencies, including the Nigerian Communications Commission, to take urgent steps compelling the company to do the needful to enable its workers to enjoy their rights.

Speaking to reporters, the NLC chairman in the state said that the action was in compliance with the directive of the national headquarters of the NLC.

“The action is necessary in order to protest the hostile working environment for the MTN workers in the country,’’ he said.

He said the picketing became necessary following the failure of the management of the company to address the workers’ plight in spite of the agreement reached between it and NLC leadership in 2017.

“The picketing is a directive from the union headquarters and is a nationwide exercise, which is against the exploitation, casualisation and infringement of the fundamental human rights of the workers.

“The action also became inevitable as the company has refused to heed to advice to stop its inhuman treatment of workers.

“About 80 per cent of the staff are casuals and they are not allowed to unionise, which is against the International Labour Organisation (ILO) treaty.

“The NLC will not fold its arms and allow enslavement of our fellow citizens in their own country with actions that contravenes Article 98 of the 1989 workers convention.”

In his remarks, while addressing the NLC members, Senior Assistant Manager, MTN office, Kano, Abdulhamid Hassan said the management of the company was currently discussing with relevant stakeholders with a view to resolving the issue.

Speaking in Bayelsa, The NLC Chairman in the state, Mr John Ndiomu said that picketing of the organisation became necessary in the face of MTN’s utter disregard for trade union rights.

He said that NLC would not fold its arms while MTN treated workers as slaves, adding that the workers’ voices must be heard.

“You may not know; the majority of the workers here in Bayelsa are casual workers. This is wrong, our brothers and sisters are suffering.

“MTN must respect human and trade union rights in Nigeria. Every worker is entitled to better working conditions.

“This is not acceptable. Our laws do not accept that and those workers need to be liberated.

”We need to tell them that they need to respect the laws of the country; they need to also respect our own labour laws, but most importantly, they must respect human and trade union rights.

”Workers have dignity, workers are not slaves and therefore, all workers must be treated with the best of attention.

“Injury to a worker at MTN is an injury to all Nigerian workers,” he said.

Efforts to talk to MTN officials in Bayelsa proved abortive, as those approached said they were not authorised to talk on any issue pertaining the company.

Comrade Hashimu Gital, Chairman, NLC), Bauchi State, who led the picketing, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the action was to advance issues of decent work and better conditions of service for workers.

‎“Every worker is entitled to better working conditions,” he said,  accusing the telecommunication company of regularly renewing employment contract with its workers as a way of shying away from the respiratory similitude of paying gratuity and pension to them.

‎“We are giving them three days as a warning, as directed by the National office of the NLC in Abuja,’’ he said.

‎According to him, the company, at every three months, sacks its workers and give them a new contract.

“This is not acceptable. Our laws do not accept that, and those workers need to be liberated.

‎“We need to tell them that they need to respect the laws of the country; they need to also respect our own labour laws, but most importantly, they must respect human and trade union rights.

Mr Olajuwon Olaide, the Chairman NUPTE Ibadan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the MTN office, off Ring Road, Ibadan, that the union was sealing all MTN offices in all the states in the country.

Olaide said the union had been in talks with MTN for over two years to allow its members of staff to participate in unionism.

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“MTN has been countering our decisions, which haven’t been favourable to both the union and the members of staff.

“In South Africa where they came from, their staff are participating in unionism but they are not allowing that in Nigeria.

“They are taking us for granted here in Nigeria and that has to stop. There should be an equal right for all across the globe.

“This picketing is taking place across all the states where MTN offices are located and the sealing off is going on simultaneously,” he said.

Olaide said that in June, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Com Ayuba Wabba visited MTN South Africa over the issue and he was mobbed.

“Comrade Wabba was disregarded over the issue and now we are taking the necessary action to correct all wrongs,” he said.

NAN reports that the picketing of MTN offices on Monday is going on simultaneously nationwide.