MTN exploitation: Nigerians seek federal government intervention to end Labour crisis

Yakubu Busari

• Calls On Government To Look Into Their Case

Nigerians working for MTN telecom networks across the country have decried the company Labour exploitation and poor conditions of service.

Some of the recently contracted staff who was disengaged under this nefarious condition solicited the intervention of federal government to end their plight.

However, our correspondent also gathered that those on the contract list are either sacked within two months or told that their case will be reviewed  by the management.

According to the statement, “Nigeria is a very diverse country with high quality of people despite all odds, working hard to meet the groaning needs of their families”.

The statement, appealed that the challenges and labour framework in Nigeria is giving citizens a serious concern and it’s also posing threat to the nations’ industrial sector.

Its was alleged that some foreign companies especially the MTN telecommunications industries are taking advantage of loose laws of labour Acts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to exploit its citizens to extent of engaging them on permanent contract employment of two months, after which is renewable.

“You  would recall that when some of the foreign companies arrived in Nigeria with intent of doing business, they engaged some individuals and by extension contracted recruitment of staff of over forty thousand workers throughout the federation to work with no condition of service, no terminal benefit, no unionism and discriminately deny them other welfare no matter the number of years your contract have lasted”.

The statement lamented that ,Nigeria’s unemployment situation is not different from what is obtainable in any part of the world, but our citizens must be accorded respect and dignity.

They further explained that a situation where you have been engaged as contract staff for five to ten or twelve years and had to be terminated within a week is shameful and embarrassing.

The statement pointed that for a common driver who had used a company vehicle for example for ten years after which he is fired for no offense and without benefit, and he is replaced with a new contracted driver is enough signal of labour exploitation. Under this condition they are not even entitled to annual leave or you go and lose your pay for that month.

The labour exploitation in Nigeria is such that the Nigerian Labour Congress and trade union organizations have to rise up against these and save the Nigerian citizens from slavery ,the statement added.

The advised Ministry of Labour and Productivity authority not to  pretend over issues of this nature, or else posterity will never forgive the present generation for perpetrating this dangerous act .