Ict/Telecom
Workers Threaten To Shut Down MTN Office
Some aggrieved workers of the MTN call centre in Jos, have threatened to shut down the facilities over alleged “exploitation’’ by the management of the local station.
The workers told newsmen in Jos on Sunday that the communication outfit promised an upward review of their wages after confirming their appointments.
‘When we were recruited two years ago, we were given a flat salary of N35,000 per month with a promise that the figure would be “significantly increased’’ after we were confirmed.
“But to our dismay, we were only given a flat rate of N2,000. We find that simply unbelievable because our contemporaries in other states are paid between N100,000 and N120,000,’’ the workers claimed.
The worker, who pleaded anonymity, said they were no fewer than 2000 and insisted that they would shut down the centre if the management continued what they described as ‘organised exploitation.
“We do the same work with other colleagues in Lagos, Kano and Kaduna. There is no reason why the workers in those call centres should earn more than twice our wages here.
“Again, we run similar shifts. We went through similar training, so it is confusing that we should earn less than half of their own wages.’’
Our source learnt that MTN contracted a Lagos-based private firm, CNSSL Contact Center Limited, to recruit workers for the take- off of the Call Centre in 2010.
Documents made available to reporters in Jos indicated that CNSSL placed each worker on a salary of N120,000 a month instead of N35,000 the workers claimed they were receiving.
The staff, who said they suspected a rip-off, also claimed that the local management made some deductions from their salaries, monies meant for rice and oil given to them by MTN during Christmas.
“We know MTN usually gives such gifts free to its workers and even some customers while we were asked to pay for such items here is surprising,’’ one of the workers added.
They alleged that the centres were owned by some senior managers of MTN.
The staff also accused MTN of preventing them from forming a workers’ union and described the situation as “unfair’’, saying the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Plateau Government should intervene.
The Regional Technical Officer of CNSSL in Jos, Mr Adeboh Ejiga, refused to comment on the allegations and claimed that he was not allowed to speak to the media.
However, the MTN General Manager for Corporate Affairs, Mr Funmilayo Omogbenigun, said the company’s local outsourcing model was unique in the communication industry.
Omogbenigun, who rejected claims that the centre owners had any association with MTN or its board, said that they were selected “through a rigorous bidding process which ensured that the winner had demonstrable abilities in call centre management.
“We also insisted that their policies are aligned to MTN’s best practice with respect to the ethical treatment of employees.
“What we tried to do is to make sure that MTN staff provided by outsourced partners are remunerated in line with the current levels for their particular job profile and geographical area.’’
On the salary of the workers, Omogbenigun, said staff were paid based on their location and as such disparities were bound to exist.
“Our commitment to the welfare of those who work in our call centres is well established and we are unaware of any threat to shut down MTN’s call centre in Jos,’’ the officer said.
The Plateau Chairman of NLC, Jibrin Bancir, confirmed that the council was aware of the dispute between MTN and its workers in Jos.
“We have been investigating the conflict since 2011. If not for the nationwide strike on subsidy, we would have resolved the issue by now.’’
He said that the union leaders had met with all relevant officers in MTN who promised that the issue would soon be resolved.
“We have pleaded with the workers in the Jos office of MTN to be patient since we are already tackling the problems with the relevant officers,’’ Bancir said.
The union leader said the major issue was MTN’s refusal to allow the workers to form a union.
“MTN staff must unionise; Airtel had similar complaints at a point but now the workers there have a union.
“We have been going round all GSM service providers and want to ensure that workers there are allowed to have unions to channel their demands to management,’’ he said.
The Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Company Limited (SNEPCo), Elohor Aiboni, said Bonga, Nigeria’s first deep-water asset, has recorded major milestones, due to effective leadership, cutting-edge technology, continuous improvement and collaboration with stakeholders.
She noted that since coming on stream in November 2005, Bonga has maintained a track record of production that saw it achieve one-billion-barrel export on February 13, last year.
In her presentation, titled “The Bonga Journey to a Billion Barrels”, at the ongoing 2024 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, United States, Aiboni, said: “SNEPCo is grateful for the contributions of all the parties to the Bonga story and we can all be proud of the milestones.
“Bonga has been consistent. In 2014, nine years after coming onstream, it achieved half a billion barrels of crude and doubled it in 2023. We have worked relentlessly to ensure excellent asset management, project and wells delivery and deployment of technology and innovations in our operations”.
According to her, these factors, “coupled with the supportive partnership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and our co-venturers – TotalEnergies, EP Nigeria Limited; Nigerian Agip Exploration; and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, make Bonga stand out as a world-class investment case”.
She continued that, “SNEPCo also enjoyed the support of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in the success of Bonga operations”.
Aiboni also listed the challenges of keeping the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel full as the asset ages and dealing with unexpected developments with subsea wells and equipment.
She said: “SNEPCo responded with a campaign of operational excellence, which among other initiatives, led to the creation of a programme known as the Bonga Business Improvement Plan that continually reviews and identifies improvement initiatives and drives sustainability in operations and upskilling of staff.
“The Bonga success story has been led by Nigerians who have been managing directors of SNEPCo since it was established in 1993, in a deliberate policy by Shell to develop indigenous manpower for deep-water operations in Nigeria.
“Today, some 97percent of the SNEPCo workforce is Nigerian and overall, Bonga has helped to create a new generation of Nigerian deep-water professionals.
“Our vision at SNEPCo remains to be the best deep-water business, powering growth and achieving net zero emissions in line with Shell’s Powering Progress strategy”.
Banks’ borrowings from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) fell month-on-month, (MoM) by 44 percent to N12.16 trillion in April from N21.7 trillion in March.
Analysis of latest data from the CBN shows that the 44percent drop represents the first MoM decline in banks borrowing from since January when it increased by 268.7 percent to N3.6 trillion from N976.29 billion in December 2023.
However, further analysis showed that banks’ deposits in the CBN SDF grew MoM by 118.4 percent to N428.97 billion in April from N196.37 billion in March 2024.
Banks make use of the SLF to access liquidity to run their day-to-day business operations while the Standing Deposit Facility window (SDF) on the other hand, is an overnight deposit facility that allows banks to lodge excess liquidity (money) with the CBN and earn interest.
The decline in banks’ borrowing from SLF may reflect an increase in banking system liquidity and also the decision of the apex bank last year to remove the limit on the remunerable daily placements by banks at the SDF.
According to the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN removed the cap on the remunerable SDF to increase activity in the SDF window and manage liquidity.
A Financial technology expert, Olatunji Akinrinola, has highlighted the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, which according to him, was driven by technological advancements.
Akinrinola made this assertion in a press release recently, where he stressed that the role of technology in driving this exponential growth in the FinTech sector was very outstanding.
According to him, Technology has revolutionised the way financial services are delivered, making them more accessible, efficient, and inclusive.
“Through innovations such as mobile banking, digital payments, and blockchain technology, FinTech companies have been able to reach a larger population and provided them with access to financial services”, he stated.
Akinrinola emphasised the role of technology in enabling financial inclusion, adding: “Technology has democratised access to financial services, particularly in regions with limited banking infrastructure.
“Mobile money platforms and digital wallets have empowered individuals to conduct financial transactions conveniently and securely, without the need for traditional banking services”.
He also underscored the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics in driving innovation within the FinTech industry, noting: “AI-powered algorithms and predictive analytics have revolutionised risk assessment, fraud detection, and customer personalisation in financial services.
“These technologies enable FinTech companies to provide tailored solutions and mitigate risks more effectively, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience”.
Akinrinola stressed the importance of regulatory frameworks in fostering the growth of the FinTech industry.
“While technology has accelerated the growth of FinTech, it is essential to establish robust regulatory frameworks to ensure consumer protection and maintain market stability. Regulators play a crucial role in balancing innovation with risk management, thereby creating a conducive environment for the sustainable growth of the FinTech sector”, he stated.
Akinrinola underscored the role of technology in driving the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, saying, “Technology has been a game-changer for the FinTech sector, enabling innovation, expanding access to financial services, and driving economic growth.
“As technology continues to evolve, the FinTech industry will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the future of financial services ecosystem”.
Corlins Walter