Private companies in Nigeria tend to take advantage of the country's high unemployment rate to remunerate their employees very poorly. Because employers know too well there are thousands more desperate young professionals queueing up outside their doors. So as soon as the workforce protests against working conditions, sacking seems to be the first resort. The latest case dates back to only a few weeks when 1,700 young men and women who used to work for the outsourcing company, Communications Network Support Service Limited (CNSSL) found themselves overnight without a job.
By Kingsley Madueke, Jos, Nigeria
“Our experience with CNSSL is modern day slavery,” says Paul Afolabi, the union chairman of the sacked workers. “Our counterparts in other States are paid thrice what we are paid.”
On 14 March, individuals believed to be officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), an umbrella organisation for trade unions in Nigeria, picketed and stormed into the office of CNSSL. Their demand was clear. How come the employees of the call centre in Jos were paid only 37, 400 Naira (180 Euros) per month while their colleagues in Lagos, Kano and Kaduna earned 96, 300 Naira (475 Euros).
Agreement
Following the protest, both CNSSL and NLC managed to come to an agreement. There would be a review of the salaries upward by 22.5 per cent. But instead of honouring the agreement, CNSSL violated the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in March and in April they closed down the MTN call centre, leaving all its employees on the street.
This immediately stirred new protests. Under a blazing sun in front of the MTN/CNSSL office complex in Rayfield in Jos, over a thousand people, including employees, shouted their lungs out in protest against their unfair dismissal. They also complained about what they consider to be some unfinished business.
“This is injustice,” shouted Gideon Pam, one of the sacked employees. “We have worked extra hours without extra pay under terrible conditions hoping CNSSL will increase our salaries as it promised us. It is wicked of them to turn around and sack us.”
Termination of employment
But, although the closing down of the call centre happened in April, the formal termination of employment for the 1,700 people started only on 12 July. On that day, text messages were sent notifying them that the call centre in Jos was winding up its operations.
And it was only on 27 July that the employees received an email, dated by the way 16 July, telling them officially that they were no longer employees of CNSSL.
The Nigerian government is also a major culprit in short-changing employees. Workers are perpetually striking because of the failure of some state governments to implement the minimum wage of 18,000 Naira (90 Euros) introduced by President Goodluck Jonathan. And although Nigerian authorities estimate the country's unemployment rate at slightly over 20 per cent, many experts describe the figure as a rather modest representation of the true picture.
Blatant lie
A couple of weeks ago, MTN/CNSSL said in a national newspaper that the reason behind the closure of the call centre was insecurity. Many, including the Plateau State government, think this is a blatant lie. Because, besides the fact that the call centre is located in the safest part of Jos metropolis, near the Nigerian Air Force Base, it did operate and compelled its staff to report to work even in more volatile security situations in the past.
MTN is one of the largest GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) service providers in Nigeria. It contracted CNSSL to manage its call centre in Jos and other parts of the country. The protesters think MTN’s intervention could help the situation. But it seems pretty clear where the telecommunication giant’s interests are.
Obtaining a reaction or comment from MTN/CNSSL on the matter has proven to be, to this day, impossible.
Afolabi feels cheated. “We want our jobs back and the same remunerations with our colleagues in other parts of the country. Life is difficult without a job but justice is also important” he concludes.
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Its quite unfortunate that someone on this blog has to insult someone fighting for his right. If your numbskull is making millions per month then you don't have to comment. I know your family is dying in poverty. You insult someone to go get a permanennt job when your foolish self iss jobless and still living under your parent's room eating their food. The genesis of the Jos call centre was the sack of 65 permanent staff in nov 2009. The sacked staff were promoted sept 2009. MTN went to the press saying they are non performers. MTN was summoned by the senate April 2012 and couldn't defend the sack. MTN is a corrupt organisation lacks integrity and made up of idiots who sleeps with one another. MTN is like Soddom and Gomorah. Evil people are in Management. Those 65 were ussed to cut cost to set up Jos call centre and pay Nigerians peanuts. As I write, Airtel iss doing same at Ibadan to pay N28k. Nigerian leaders has sold out our. Generation. Its a shame.
The National Assembly both senate and house of rep, we are calling on you to ensure the right is done in our beloved country. MTN Call centre in Jos is closed since 1/5/2012 by cnssl@mtn, what happen in Algeria should not be allowed here. How can you sack 1700 staff for no just cost. People are angry. Public complain commission do not wait for any formal complain again. Prevention is better than cure. Tommorow the like of CNSSL will sack 5000 Staff. MTN should open the call centre or close other business in Jos, Plateau state not only the call centre including your mast, vibre cables, connect stores, walk in centres, trade partners and also the upstairs of the call centre( use as connect store and office by mtn staff are still there) for the insecurity you postulated. Why the call centre alone. Where are the pension, tax, cnssl deducted without remitting to the PFA, tax authority from the staff salary? Kaduna state and kano, kwara state including Lagos state watch the activities of CNSSL in your respective domain. Other call centre staff managed by CNSSL should check your deduction very well. Do you mean no salary increament since you started work about three years ago? National Labour Congress, Abuja please call a nation wide strike in telecommunication sector (MTN chapter) on 1st of September, 2012; if they fail to reopen the centre on/before 31/09/2012; that is the only language some of our employers understand in Nigeria. Please, Is company allow to pay pension directly to the employee salary account not the RSA? Pension commission this is what CNSSL did. CNSSL had No record to show tax registration in tax office, FIRS/SIRS do your work now. I believe this is how the operate all over the country. Oversight functions of legislators should be extended to pravite sectors. Evidence abounds. God Bless My Country, Nigeria.
MTN come to Jos & make self assessment, pls dont send cnssl boys for any assignment on your behave, the truth will never be told by them. Some of your employees are now cnssl boys, eg Mr Wale Goodluck, Funmi Omogbenigun etc. The situation in Jos is quite good. Also dont allow CNSSL to make your offices the target of security opperessors in Nigeria because of the comment made by Master Ajiga for their selfish aim and gloried by your own employees mentioned above. It might be another call centre tommorow or even another company saying it in furture. MTN/CNSSL note people you see in call centre today, can not remain there forever. MTN your action is what matter! If cnssl lack the human relation/managerial capacity to manage the call centre, others are there, afterall cnssl did not start kaduna, kano, lagos centre for you. This is an opportunity to check mate CNSSL contract activities with MTN. CNSSL sold similar idea to airtel nigeria but their efforts was turn down by airtel staff last year. The issue is welfare and NOT insecurity as postulated by CNSSL. We have brothers and sisters that works there. LIFE must go on but the right thing must be done. Nigeria govt, civil soceities, professional bodies, govt agencies, youth bodies wake up to your responsibilities. We are watching and following. God bless Nigeria.
@kelvin O,I don't blame you for crying over contract job that is renewable every 6months while your mate are out there getting permanent job of over millions of naira,u are just an idiot from record u begged for this job then after staying @ home for 5years without a job,we know ur poverty stinking house that u came from. Now that u managed to get this contract job your aim is to get it closed. It is very true that you are given such amount (300000)to rendered others jobless the whole world knows about this.Now you are even collecting 1000 and 2000 for CV collection. WHY this from Unemployed innocent citizen.you are a FRAUDSTER. EFCC will soon come and visit you.Idiot,fool like you,is your mum that slept with Ajiga to get job.with the PASS certificate you carrying about.fool
MTN has several outfits in Plateau State i.e. Connect stores, Walk-in Centers and others with staffs all working in peace till this moment, including MTN permanent staffs sharing the same building and premises with the Call Centre staffs. How come these people have not stopped working due to this “insecurity propaganda”? If you talk about occasional disturbances, they also occur in Kaduna & Kano, how come these centers have not been shut due to “insecurity? CNSSL will also be the first and only organization to shut operations in Jos due to their purported “insecurity”, others have been in existence even before CNSSL still continue to function.
This issue is currently receiving the attention of the: Plateau State Governor (Dr. Jonah David Jang), the Plateau State House of Assembly (led by Rt. Hon. John Clark Dabwan, Speaker) and the state NLC chapter (under the able chairmanship of Comrade Jibrin Kanga Bancir). However, the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians is still being solicited to help the over 1,500 employees of the MTN Jos Call Centre receive their entitlements and also regain their jobs.
May we use this opportunity to seek the intervention of the Nigerian National Assembly and the Presidency to help us (victims of circumstance) on our being disengaged from our jobs, for our employment has now been terminated officially even without due process.
My coments goes to the annonymous who said Excos n NLC made them loose their jobs, you are such a fool,people like you have always bn d stumbling blocks in this strugle, we all contributed to buy ourselves meals while picketing the call centre, if perpetual poverty is your lot on earth then try your hands in brick-layin or other silly jobs arnd, when u were paid the 22:5% the EXCOs faught for, why didnt you return it? FOOL! I'm sure you dont have what it takes to get a job, u r one of those patch up by AJIGA to get d job, maybe sleeping with ajiga sef! IDIOT! Why nt follow him 2 ilorin, BASTARD
the following pple should be responsible for rendered us jobless Exco,NLC chairman(jos),unknown sponsor(that gave the Exco #300000 and daily food inside container).bcs,now all of them now can not provide alternative job for us.God will punish all of you.Amen.
Mtn/cnssl are partners in crime. Some mtn directors are benefiting from the fraudulent act. Our pension fund was not remitted. This is infact against labour & industrial act. In addition,it's a financial crime punishable under EFCC/ICPC. Cnssl, u have no hiding place.
Mtn/cnssl are partners in crime. Some mtn directors are benefiting from the fraudulent act. Our pension fund was not remitted. This is infact against labour & industrial act. In addition,it's a financial crime punishable under EFCC/ICPC. Cnssl, u have no hiding place.
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Mtn/cnssl are partners in crime. Some mtn directors are benefiting from the fraudulent act. Our pension fund was not remitted. This is infact against labour & industrial act. In addition,it's a financial crime punishable under EFCC/ICPC. Cnssl, u have no hiding place.
CNSSL/MTN, ajiga is used for dirty job but i pity you. MTN watched ajiga calling insecurity in their business, cheap liar, even primary one pupil cant liar this way. I pray you meet the insecurity in your life. MTN cant pay its workers but promising airline in lootery, MTN is in Nigeria for lootery business. Very soon the long hand of the Law will catch you. Ajiga Debo is an AGBERO. You done have a hiding place. Ajiga people u sacked are from south, east, west and north, then where is your hiding place? Watch out? You can sacked my brothers n sisters like that? We shall see?
CNSSL/MTN, ajiga is used for dirty job but i pity you. MTN watched ajiga calling insecurity in their business, cheap liar, even primary one pupil cant liar this way. I pray you meet the insecurity in your life. MTN cant pay its workers but promising airline in lootery, MTN is in Nigeria for lootery business. Very soon the long hand of the Law will catch you. Ajiga Debo is an AGBERO. You done have a hiding place. Ajiga people u sacked are from south, east, west and north, then where is your hiding place? Watch out? You can sacked my brothers n sisters like that? We shall see?
Is a big blow on nigeria government that in the front of nigeria airforce mtn/cnsslclaim insecurity and nigeria government pay deaf ear. Only because no child of a minister/senator/rep working with mtn/cnssl before nigeria government do something, why is the insecurity in jos affecting only mtn. The government of nigeria will give an account of this mess if the cant call mtn to order.
The youth on the plateau are watching with keen interest.All our political elites whose hands are soiled by these monsters and slave masters called CNSSL should watch out. The day of reckoning is at hand. Ajiga,the HR manager has told us to our face that,he has watered the ground(bribed most of our leaders)hence we can only back and we cant bite. We will find out very soon... To mtn,if jos is insecured for ur business,what are ur BTS,masts and recharge cards doing in jos? Remember we are all graduates,and we know how we can shut down ur business here. If others have fogotten what ur govt did to our distinguish senator and other peace loving Nigerians in South Africa,I've not. Dont push us to the wall!!! If we decide to fight back you will not contain us! Remember,this company has not been remitting its tax to our state govt,yet you had the guts to blackmail us on the Plateau. I sometimes imagine why we the people on the Plateau so much love peace!!! This same inhuman treatment cant happen in other parts of this country. In Gbenga's state(CNSSL CEO's state of origin)he did not do this. We from Jos call center went there and trained these new workers.Just barely 4 months old,they are receiving twice our salary,who have been working for two years. What an injustice and slavery. I salute the courage of all jos ccrs for keeping the peace despite this cheating and blackmail. Remember,to be fore warn is to be fore.... CNSSL have taken the laws of the land into their hands,and I am afraid,they are fast teaching us to do same....EFCC and ICPC,NCC,the state and the federal govt and all the relevant bodies should take note
The youth on the plateau are watching with keen interest.All our political elites whose hands are soiled by these monsters and slave masters called CNSSL should watch out. The day of reckoning is at hand. Ajiga,the HR manager has told us to our face that,he has watered the ground(bribed most of our leaders)hence we can only back and we cant bite. We will find out very soon... To mtn,if jos is insecured for ur business,what are ur BTS,masts and recharge cards doing in jos? Remember we are all graduates,and we know how we can shut down ur business here. If others have fogotten what ur govt did to our distinguish senator and other peace loving Nigerians in South Africa,I've not. Dont push us to the wall!!! If we decide to fight back you will not contain us! Remember,this company has not been remitting its tax to our state govt,yet you had the guts to blackmail us on the Plateau. I sometimes imagine why we the people on the Plateau so much love peace!!! This same inhuman treatment cant happen in other parts of this country. In Gbenga's state(CNSSL CEO's state of origin)he did not do this. We from Jos call center went there and trained these new workers.Just barely 4 months old,they are receiving twice our salary,who have been working for two years. What an injustice and slavery. I salute the courage of all jos ccrs for keeping the peace despite this cheating and blackmail. Remember,to be fore warn is to be fore.... CNSSL have taken the laws of the land into their hands,and I am afraid,they are fast teaching us to do same....EFCC and ICPC,NCC,the state and the federal govt and all the relevant bodies should take note
Greatest gbosa don gbosa our only source of income!!!very unfortunate.
very unfortunate that after reviewing the salary to:Effective July 15, 2012, the salary structure for Jos call centre Agents will as follows as follows;
3-6 Months; N65, 400.00 per Month
6month - 1year: N70, 850.00 per moths
1year - 2years: N81, 750.00 per month
Over 2years: N93, 740.00 per month
Subject to revised employment contract terms.
Please note Staff with additional work responsibilities shall be rewarded in addition to the above depending on their functions and role.
We look forward to reopening of the Jos call center and commencement of operations on July15 2012.
Nobody mention this review. they all(Exco) believed that another contractor will come. May God help us all. Amen.abeg wedon dey house now eyes don clear. make
U dont sound lyk u appreciate the effort of the union. I understand there was a clause in the revised salary that said that the above is gross pay, i.e b4 tax n other deductions and it was also subject to hourly productivity. How much exactly will be paid per hour? How much will be left after the necessary deductions, will it be beta than what you were being paid b4? Can u answer these questions?
It is quit unfortunate to say the less,such inhuman treatment meted on able bodied graduates,who are ready to contribute their quota in service to their fatherland,mtn/cnssl should be brought to book and answer to why these graduates were sacked just for asking for their right, since a rat in USA is a rat in Nigeria so also a rat in Kano,Lagos,Ilorin and Kaduna is rat in Jos, I see no sense or reason whatsoever in cnssl to pay the same people doing the same job differently if not wickedness and exploitation of the highest degree and imperialism. Hence, the governmment and other law enforcement agencies should raise to the occasion and make mtn/cnssl face justice ,if not other company will act with such impunity.
@ajiga a= we don dey house eye don clear... Its clear u knew nothing about struggle and u'll forever usleee niii, was i stated in clear terms what we need take home after that crazy review. If @35k/37k they ( cnss'hell') could state stuffs like pension,tax,entertainment and many more in detail why cant thesame f**king mangement state what and what deduction that will be made. To the comradose greatest gbosa to all una, keep it up cos wether in or out u've made a difference.....
Cnssl/Mtn obviously has something they are not tell ing the world yet, as regards the whole events that resulted in the winding up of its operations in jos.
Be it as it may, injustice, violation of our fundamental human and civil rights, criminal, financial crimes, has been or rather being metted on over 1500 noble nigerian graduates...more than a case of HIRE AND FIRE!!
However the case may be, we (the terminated staff of cnssl/mtn jos call centre) will continue to speak out/ cry out untill justice prevails.
EFCC,ICPC, Ministry of Labor and productivity, human right activists, and all other relevant authorities, Please turn your ears to our cry.
The time is here and the time is now.
We WANT OUR JOB BACK!!!
LET JUSTICE PREVAIL......CNSSL AND ITS BLODD MONEY CABAL MUST FACE THE LAW!!
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS THE VOICE OF GOD.....AND THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK!!
What are the regulatory bodies in nigeria doing about this injustice. Is the NCC-nigeria communiations commission, ministry of labour, national Assembly etc Sleeping or have the all been bribed...
What are the regulatory bodies in nigeria doing about this injustice. Is the NCC-nigeria communiations commission, ministry of labour, national Assembly etc Sleeping or have the all been bribed...
What are the regulatory bodies in nigeria doing about this injustice. Is the NCC-nigeria communiations commission, ministry of labour, national Assembly etc Sleeping or have the all been bribed...
Mtn Nigeria should be held accountable for expliotation, vitimization of nigerian call centre workers in Jos- This a clear case of corporate irresponsibility, fraud and unethical conduct. Gross neligence, lack of intergrity... Mtn wake up.... It a big shame, to be linked n associated wit a fraudulent company like CNSSL.,
Mtn Nigeria should be held accountable for expliotation, vitimization of nigerian call centre workers in Jos- This a clear case of corporate irresponsibility, fraud and unethical conduct. Gross neligence, lack of intergrity... Mtn wake up.... It a big shame, to be linked n associated wit a fraudulent company like CNSSL.,
It is really unfortunate that a call for a review of the salaries and entitlements of the Jos Call Centre Customer Care Representatives in accordance with what is obtainable in other MTN Call Centres (also managed by CNSSL
) is now being interpreted as an "escalating security situation".
It is also utterly contemptible that cheap tricks and easily verifiable lies are being bandied about by the CNSSL /MTN duo.
It is common knowledge that the management of CNSSL held a number of the Jos Call Centre staff at gunpoint in an attempt to coerce them into signing a document which would frustrate the clamour for salary harmonisation. Video evidence of the use of Nigerian army soldiers threatening to fire on unarmed civilian graduate workers of CNSSL /MTN exists.
The entire issues surrounding the closure of the Jos Call Centre, and the termination of the employment of all its Customer Care Representatives can quite simply be traced to a rejection by the staff of the serial bullying, and shortchanging by the staff of CNSSL /MTN.
For readers interested in the truth, the discontent of the Jos Call Centre staff stems from the disparity in salaries, and entitlements between the Jos Call Centre staff and other MTN Call Centres (recall that these other centres are also being managed by CNSSL). The Jos staff found it difficult to stomach being paid 35000 Naira per month; roughly equivalent to a third of what other MTN Call Centre staff obtain. This is notwithstanding that the same job is being done by all staff regardless of their states of residence. The staff in Jos were also required to work more hours per month, and take on more night shifts.
The crime of the Jos Call Centre Staff is that they "dared" to ask for salaries and entitlements similar to what their colleagues in other states received.
They have been shown that no limits exist to the corporate irresponsibility of the CNSSL /MTN duo.
MTN has shown itself to be a peddler of falsehood, and an organisation whose moral worth exists only in the ether.
For readers interested in the truth, the discontent of the Jos Call Centre staff stems from the disparity in salaries, and entitlements between the Jos Call Centre staff and other MTN Call Centres (recall that these other centres are also being managed by CNSSL). The Jos staff found it difficult to stomach being paid 35000 Naira per month; roughly equivalent to a third of what other MTN Call Centre staff obtain. This is notwithstanding that the same job is being done by all staff regardless of their states of residence. The staff in Jos were also required to work more hours per month, and take on more night shifts.
The crime of the Jos Call Centre Staff is that they "dared" to ask for salaries and entitlements similar to what their colleagues in other states received.
They have been shown that no limits exist to the corporate irresponsibility of the CNSSL /MTN duo.
MTN has shown itself to be a peddler of falsehood, and an organisation whose moral worth exists only in the ether.
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