Nigeria’s telecoms sector is facing potential disruption as workers under the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association (PTECSSAN) have embarked on a nationwide strike.
The union, representing over 800 workers, has raised the issues caused by poor working conditions, dismissals, and a lack of recognition for their right to unionise, which they claim have not been addressed by employers in the industry.
The union’s secretary-general, Okonu Abdullahi, in a statement on Monday, explained that the strike became unavoidable due to unending challenges faced by its members.
He emphasised that these issues include the unjust termination of employees, denial of the workers’ constitutional rights to join the union, and the continued harsh working environment many staff are subjected to within the telecoms sector.
PTECSSAN members, who work across various telecom companies and service providers, including major firms like IHS and Huawei, have been instructed not to address any technical faults or service outages during the strike.
Abdullahi noted that the impact of the industrial action could be severe, as routine outages and breakdowns of infrastructure would go unaddressed, potentially causing widespread disruption for telecom subscribers nationwide.
The union’s list of demands includes the reinstatement of sacked members, recognition of their union, and an overall improvement in working conditions. They have also called for the prompt remittance of membership dues by employers.
Despite the union’s actions to resolve these matters through dialogue, they claim that the telecom companies have largely ignored their grievances.
This is not the first instance of unrest within the sector; earlier in the year, a similar strike was averted following intervention by the Ministry of Labour. However, Abdullahi mentioned that the companies have reverted to their previous practices, leaving the union with no choice but to resume industrial action.
Meanwhile, the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) distanced itself from the strike. Its chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, said that PTECSSAN was not affiliated with its members, which include major telecom operators like MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile.
Adebayo stated that while ALTON is focused on freedom of association, the group in question is unfamiliar to them, and they have not engaged in formal negotiations with the union.
The involvement of contract workers in the telecoms industry has become a contentious issue, with many of these workers employed indirectly through third-party contractors and service companies.
This system of outsourcing has raised questions about the welfare and job security of the employees, who form the backbone of critical infrastructure management within the sector. Many workers involved in the strike are engineers responsible for maintaining essential services such as base stations and fibre networks.
The Ministry of Labour has promised to resolve the situation. Princess Powei, a ministry official, acknowledged the workers’ issues and assured that efforts were being made to bring all parties to the table. She noted that the dispute would not be prolonged, as negotiations are set to commence soon.
In contrast, Huawei Nigeria has denied any involvement in the strike. A spokesperson for the company, stated that none of their direct employees were participating in the industrial action.
However, he acknowledged that workers employed by subcontractors might be affected, distancing the company from direct responsibility for the strikers.
