Sacked MTN Staff Threatened to Sue the Company while Fear Grips the Remaining Workers

While staff affected in a mass sack by the South African telecoms giant, MTN, are yet to recover from the shock, those not affected seem gripped by fear over speculation that more heads may roll. A senior management staff told Ripples Nigeria in a chat, that the sack came at a time it was not expected. “If the management had done this in 2015 and 2016 when the company was facing twin problems of paying over $2.5 billion fine to government and suffering the effect of recession, it could have been understandable, but to carry out such an action in the year that promised to be rosy beats everyone’s imagination, “ he said. He confirmed that prior to the mass sack, more than 50 staff had on their own left the company, based on health conditions and other offers, which would have made the number of staff, laid off unnecessary or be reduced. It was gathered that staff mostly affected were those in the public relations, marketing and finance departments. No reason was adduced by the management, except a tacit statement to each affected employee, stating that some reorganization in the outfit had made it necessary to review staff list.

The statement promised that the door would still be open for any of them to return when the need arises. The company issued letters of sack to 200 permanent workers and 80 contract staff in its Nigeria arm. This is as the company is said to be targeting at least, 25 per cent of its 1,800 workers in the country. But the affected staff said they would take up the company through all avenues, including the arbitration courts to ascertain that they were unfairly treated.Two senior managers, said to have been promoted in November 2016 were among those sacked at the Lagos headquarters of the company. Though the Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria Ferdi Moolman, could not be reached, an aide of his said management had concluded plans to outsource most of its services henceforth.