Workers in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, under the umbrella of the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association (PTECSSAN), commenced an indefinite nationwide strike today (Monday).
The strike, triggered by grievances including unjust sackings and poor working conditions, involves critical staff such as field maintenance engineers, transmission engineers, customer service engineers, and fibre engineers.
The strike has raised concerns about potential disruptions to telecommunications services across the country if the issues are not promptly resolved.
PTECSSAN had previously issued a strike notice, with Mr. Okonu Abdullahi, the union’s general secretary, citing alleged anti-labour practices by employers as the catalyst for the industrial action. According to Abdullahi, these practices include the refusal to recognize and respect workers’ constitutional rights to unionize freely.
“The strike has become necessary due to the blatant disregard for our members’ rights,” Abdullahi stated. “We shall not suspend the planned indefinite strike action until our demands, which include the immediate reinstatement of three unjustly sacked workers, are met.”
The three workers in question—Sotola Sunday Kolawole, Ulu Ikechukwu Christopher, and Alex Franklin C.—were allegedly dismissed without just cause. The union is demanding their immediate reinstatement, along with the recognition of employees’ rights to freely associate with the union.
In addition, PTECSSAN is calling for the immediate recognition of the union as the official negotiating body for workers’ welfare and the prompt remittance of membership dues into the union’s account, as previously agreed.
Abdullahi expressed hope that the telecom companies would take advantage of the seven-day window following the notice to address the union’s demands and avert the strike’s continuation. However, with the strike now in full effect, the pressure is on both parties to reach a resolution before the country’s telecom services are significantly impacted.
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