Nigeria’s telecommunications industry faces a potential nationwide shutdown as about 800 members of the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association (PTECSSAN) have commenced a strike.
The workers, primarily contract staff, are demanding the reinstatement of dismissed employees, union recognition, improved working conditions, and the remittance of membership dues.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that if their demands are not met, they warn of widespread disruptions to telecom services, affecting millions of subscribers.
The strike, which began on Monday, has left companies like Huawei and IHS vulnerable as the striking workers are responsible for maintaining critical infrastructure such as base stations and fibre networks.
Okonu Abdullahi, Secretary-General of PTECSSAN, highlighted the significant role these workers play in managing telecom operations, warning that if service outages occur, they will not respond until their grievances are addressed.
The union’s demands stem from ongoing concerns about precarious working conditions and a lack of recognition from the telecom industry.
A previous strike in April was resolved through a reconciliation meeting organized by the Ministry of Labour, but Abdullahi noted that the issues have resurfaced, prompting more workers to participate in the current strike.
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While the Ministry of Labour has acknowledged the union’s concerns and assured timely intervention, companies like Huawei have denied direct involvement in the dispute, stating that the affected workers are subcontractors rather than employees.
The telecom union has called on the Federal Government and telecom companies to address the issues quickly, warning that if their demands continue to be ignored, they may escalate their industrial action.
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