The Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the management of Airtel, a GSM telecommunication company, to appear before it on October 11 to explain the justification for sacking about 1000 workers based in the state.
Last Friday, the biggest news on the social media platforms was the “mass sacking” of about 3000 call centre officials of Airtel over remuneration issues.
What infuriated the lawmakers was the unconfirmed rumour that the sacked officials are now replaced by Indians. Some of the lawmakers doubted that the company would honour the invitation, but the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said the House will pursue the matter to any length.
"It is disheartening that telecommunication companies operating in Nigeria impose the highest tariff, deliver the worst service, declare huge profits quarterly, and still treat Nigerians, who work for them badly," he said.
"Until Nigerians decide to love themselves and act on behalf of others, things would not work fine for the country because those who are supposed to regulate the activities of these companies are always busy looking the other way when such issues arise."
The issue drew the ire of several lawmakers, who pointed out that Nigerians are now second class citizens in their mother land as most jobs belonging to them are being given to foreigners.
Bisi Yusuf (Alimosho constituency) harped on the multiplier effect of such mass retrenchment because each sacked worker has, “at least, two dependants.”
Funmilayo Tejuosho (Mushin constituency), said that the “callous” retrenchment is enough for Nigerians to stop patronising Airtel until a favourable reversal is made.
Another lawmaker, Bolaji Ayinla, berated the Ministry of Labour for playing the ostrich over such an issue.
Olarenwaju Oshun, who called the attention of the House to the matter, was particular about the number of the sacked workers who are based in Lagos.
"This is happening at a time the labour market is saturated with unemployed graduates and it is bad,” he said.
The deliberation on the floor of the House revealed that the few retained workers agreed to about 70 per cent pay cut.
On Monday, Airtel had issues a statement claiming that the mass retrenchment rumours were untrue.
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