MTN sacks 80 workers as 200 resign

By Prince Osuagwu

LAGOS—A near tsunami happened in MTN Nigeria, on Friday, as 200 long serving staff, walked out of the company’s doors in what is described as voluntary severance scheme, VSS.

This was also as the company forcibly disengaged 80 others same day to bring the total number of disengaged staff to 280.

The number accounted for about 16 percent of the 1,800 total workforce of MTN Nigeria. The job cut, which Vanguard gathered is meant to reshape the company, is not going down well with most of the 80 staff that were forcibly disengaged, who described their sack as shocking and the severance pay, meagre.

Although efforts to get confirmation from the communications department of the company proved abortive, a close source to the company said the affected workers were given 75 per cent of their gross monthly income multiplied by the number of years with the company, as severance pay.

Most of the affected staff are said to be pioneer staff who joined the company as it opened shop in the country in 2001

According to the source, “sometime in March 2017, our CEO issued a circular that the company needed to be reshaped, following the effects of the N330 billion fine we are to pay for alleged improper registration of some of our subscribers.

“However, he opened a Voluntary Severance Scheme, VSS, for permanent staff, who have worked for five years and above. Part of the conditions for the VSS was that interested staff would be paid three weeks of their monthly salary multiplied by the number of years they have spent in the company.

“About 200 staff opted for the VSS, which deadline elapsed last week in April. However, what shocked us all is that about 80 staff who did not opt for the VSS were forcibly disengaged to join the 200, who willingly wanted to go.

“Perhaps, there is a target which the company has in mind to cut out, following the changing dynamics of the telecoms industry in recent times.

“We are even afraid that more people may also be disengaged as we suspect they are targeting to reduce at least 25 percent workforce.”

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