konknaijaboy | On 11, Dec 2013

MTN Nigeria is sued by ex-staff & to appear before the National Industrial Court on January 13, 2014 further to the unlawful lay-off of Nov 2009 (Suit No – NICN/LA/596/2013)

The then CEO was a Lebanese; Ahmad Farouk who till date never made any statement on the 2009 lay-off. Sources also had it that he was never aware it occurred neither was the HR Department aware of the lay-off, reason or criteria used but just less than four months after he was replaced by Brett Grotchen a Briton.

In the latest events; confusion rocks the company as one of the masterminds; Akin Braithwaite the Customer Relations Exec. who holds a degree in Theology had since resigned last week after an emergency management meeting.

MTN Nigeria’s Customer Service had been a shadow of Itself since 2009 while we can also recall the shut down of their Jos Call Centre over a year ago due to staff protest on being short- changed.

To defend MTN Nigeria at the Industrial Court come January is a leading Nigeria Law firm; Aluko & Oyebode. Revelation has it that the second mastermind of the unlawful 2009 lay-off; Mrs Amina Oyagbola (MTN Human Resources Exec) once worked with with the firm as a lawyer before joining MTN Nigeria.

The Senate Committee on Public Petition (NASS Abuja) through its official gazette published Jan 17, 2013 CONDEMNED the way and manner the lay off was carried out. And urged MTN to review the layoff.

One of MTN’s representatives at the Public Hearing; Dr. Barrow (MTN Nigeria Employee Welfare) resigned few months after the Abuja verdict.

The case later proceeded to the ECOWAS court of Justice Abuja as Human Rights Violation case due to the non implementation of the NASS report of Jan 17 2013.

The 2009 lay-off was carried out only within the Customer Service Dept contrary to MTN’s HR Policy/Procedure/Practice, without prior notice or reasons as affected staff were caught unawares.

Another lay-off is currently sweeping through all departments since November 2013. A notice was sent via email in June 2013 by the former CEO Brett Grotchen and reasons for lay off stated based on Performance and loss of Revenue. Brett Grotchen immediately left as the CEO and Michael Ikpoki announced as d new CEO.

The twists & turns continues as we countdown to January 13, 2014.

Read more: National Industrial Court Summons MTN Nigeria for Unlawful Labour Practice

Related articles

• National Industrial Court Summons MTN Nigeria on Unlawful Labour Practise
• MTN Communications Nigeria Limited in Human Right Violation Mess
• Dairo slams N100m suit on MTN