Casualization: MTN, FCTA agrees to end menace as NLC pickets offices in ABUJA

In order to escape the wrath of Nigeria labour congress, agencies under the Federal Capital Territory administration together with the mobile Telecommunication of Nigeria MTN, has vowed to end the menace of casualization of Nigeria workers forthwith.

Both managements made the promise Friday during a clamp down by the Nigerian labour congress in reaction to the neglect to several call by the organized to end the trend.

The NLC in commemoration to the world day for decent work, first marched to the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency AEPB, which has a terrible record of 70 per cent casual workers, announced through its president Comrade Aliyu Waba that the Federal Capital Territory administration, has failed to heed to the yelling’s of its workers, despite several warnings.

According to the NLC president, while addressing the workers who were forced out of their offices, said that the labour union has come to bring to an end the ugly trend of casualization of workers, lack of good welfare packages non job description.

His words,”we have come here today in respect to the world decent work day and to use this opportunity to address the issue which is so threatening to the lives of Nigerian workers in the FCT.

The issue of casualisation must be brought to a holt, it is a known fact that the precarious way of this agency under the FCT is alarming.

Some times some of these street sweepers are knocked down by vehicles and died with out proper compensation due the fact that they are casual staffs.

It is obvious that some of them has resorted in indecent practice of extorting from the public to irk a living because they are not well taken care off”.

Speaking on the level of irresponsibility on the side of the AEPB, Comerade Ayuba, observed that the Nigerian labour Congress haven written to the Abuja Environmental protection board AEPB severally to address the issues but got no response.

“we have come here shot down this office because you have failed to address the matter and now we are told that the Acting Director is not in the office.

We will not come here again, we have selected this agency to cleansing these workers must benefit what other workers benefit. Failure to respond, then we will go to the office of the Honourable minister to register our grievances”.

On the non board of directors in place according to the act that established the agency, comrade Aliyu waba, said that the NLC is aware of the one man show being practiced in the place contrary to the supposed policy on ground.

Responding on behalf of Ag Director Mrs. Olanipekun omolola, who was absent during the picketing, deputy Director in the AEPB, Mrs Ogbonna Kate, assured the NLC that some of the issues it raised are being addressed as the Honourable minister, has given the go ahead for the regularizing of the staff under casual list. “these issues are going to be addressed before the one month deadline’’, she said

At the MTN office maitama , Aliyu Waba, said that its leadership, is demanding an equal working condition with Nigeria labourers. As well as a stop to casualization, a defined retirement benefits and total job definitions, as it is done in South Africa and Ghana.

Aliyu Waba, further decried the unceremonial sack of casual staff every three months without pay offs.

“MTN has been consistent in casualization of workers across the country, we are aware that their contracts are being reviewed every three months, sacked and given the option of reapplying with new conditions of job.

We are also aware that workers in South Africa and Ghana enjoy food working conditions different from that of Nigeria”.

According to him, the MTN, has initiated the process of dialogue between its body and the NLC and we are sure that this is where these issues will be trashed out and failure to agree,

we are aware that the corporate head office is in lagos and we shall take a closer visit to all the MTN outlets across the country but should they respond positively, then we shall step down the attack.

While receiving the protesting labour union, the General manager of MTN Abuja office, Hajia Amina Usman, while assuring the labour union of instant review of its request, said that the massage should be sent to the management for quicker dispensation.

Amina, addressing the unruly behavior of the police and other security personals at the MTN office Abuja, however, apologized on behalf of the management , stating that past experience has thought them how to protect its properties.

The NLC, said its body awaits the decisions of the organization within weeks to decide what action to take.

Idu Jude Abuja