“The insecurity situation in Jos, Plateau State, has forced CNSSL, a telecoms call centre operator that manages MTN Call Centre operation in Jos, to pack-up business, following the continuous threat to its business.”

There is no aorta of truth in this propaganda published by CNSSL in conjunction with some ‘MTN Nigeria saboteurs’ as reported unfortunately by a reporter (Emma Okonji) of a reputable Nigerian newspaper company – THISDAY publication of July 31st, 2012 Page 12.

CNSSL had entered into a contract to operate and staffs the Jos Call Centre on behalf of MTN Nigeria in July, 2010, and had been doing that until recently, when the insecurity level increased, leading to bombings of structures and human beings in the city.

But the same ‘Jos insecurity’ has not stopped the MTN staffs in all MTN Connect stores and Walk-in Centers and even the permanent MTN staffs sharing the same building and premises with the Jos Call Centre staffs from working till date (does it mean only the Call Centre staffs are affected by this so-called insecurity?), the Jos Call Centre staffs have been kept at out of work for 3months under false pretence of ‘Jos Insecurity’. And why has Kaduna & Kano Call Centers not been shut or relocated? Because they haven't been existing without their challenges too. Who is deceiving who?

“General Manager in charge of operations at the centre, Mr. Adebowale Ajiga who made the disclosure on Monday in a statement in Jos, said the forced closure was occasioned by the continuous state of insecurity in Jos and its environs. ‘The consequence of the insecurity has had significant impact on our operations, personnel and therefore, our ability to deliver on our contractual obligations to MTN,’ Ajiga said."

CNSSL shut the Jos Call Centre on the 30th of April, 2012, when they got the wind that the staffs would embark on a massive labour movement on the 1st of May, 2012 (Workers day, which was very successful from the procession at the Call Centre down to the Stadium even amidst intimidations from the security outfits). Since then, it has been a game of wits and when it appears they have lost their hold on the situation they embarked on insecurity blasphemy, after all everybody should be deceived when you hide under insecurity in Jos. You may deceive a few people for a while but you cannot deceive all the people all the time.

“According to him, the current state of insecurity and threat to personnel was heightened by recent developments in Jos. ‘Since we conduct our operations in accordance with international best practice, we consider the safety of human lives as more important that financial gain. We have therefore, informed MTN and all other concerned stakeholders including our staffs. This is a decision that we have not taken with levity, given our antecedents as one of the pioneer local companies in Nigeria to operate an outsourced call centre model for the telecommunications industry and the confidence reposed in us by MTN Nigeria,’ Ajiga said, while regretting the loss of jobs and consequential economic loss to all stakeholders, as a result of its management decision.”

If you (Mr. Ajiga) claim structures are being bombed in Jos, which of MTN’s structures or other organizations structures (such as Guiness plc, Mouka foam, Jos International Brewery, Nasco plc and the numerous banks, Insurance companies, PFAs and others that had been in existence even before MTN Call Centre was established in Jos) has been bombed so far? The whole idea of using a few challenges in remote areas of plateau state to dupe the good people of the state of their benefits, perpetrating corruption is purely unjust and will forever remain unjust.

CNSSL has successfully hid itself under the safe haven provided by some MTN Nigeria Misfits to underpay staffs, loot their benefits, entitlements and continue to enslave the Nigerian youth. The corruption in CNSSL is so endemic that some of its Management have been forced to resign.

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo (CEO CNSSL Contact Centre Limited & President ALTON – Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria) and Mr. Adebowale Ajiga (GM, Operations CNSSL) have formed a non-reputable organization that has successfully paid slave wage to over 1,500 Nigerian Graduates (BSc & HND Holders) on contract employment with MTN.

Basic Salary Monthly of “N19,568” + Transport Allowance of “N1,666” + Housing Allowance “N12,500” + Family Medical Allowance of “N3,910” + Meal Subsidy of “N416” + Utility Allowance of “N833” + Entertainment Allowance of “N500” totaling “N39,393” Gross Pay. “N39,393” – “N1410” (tax – PAYE deducted) – “N2,530” (pension fund deducted) to finally give a Net Pay or take-home pay of N35, 500 approx for 2years (which becomes N37,200 after 6months probation or on confirmation), compared to “N120,000/month” received by Lagos Call Centre staffs and “N96,300/month” as received by Kano and Kaduna Call Centre staffs respectively who are all on same job specifications and with same qualifications. Numerous Jos Call Centre staffs that have been forced to resign out of frustration will bear witnesses to this.

CNSSL says it ‘considers the safety of human lives as more important than financial gains’, yet, it has ripped off over 1,500 employees of their salaries and benefits for 2years without remorse and channeled the proceeds into personal businesses such as Royal Times Newspaper, Royal FM Radio Station to mention a few. How ironical, your consideration of human lives as more important that financial gains!

CNSSL also evaded remitting tax (PAYE deducted from salaries as indicated above) to the appropriate Government quarters and also failed deliberately in remitting pension funds deducted from employees’ salaries to the appropriate PFAs. Please, someone should ask - where does all these money go to?

“Confirming the situation, General Manager, Corporate Affairs for MTN, Funmi Omogbenigun told THISDAY that MTN was aware of the predicament of the Call Centre operator to deliver on its services because of the situation in Jos and saw reasons for them to actually quit business, instead of endangering lives of staffs. ‘MTN deliberately located its Call Centre in Jos, to empower the youths of the community by way of providing jobs for the people, but the people did not see it that way, as their actions continued to threaten lives of staffs at the centre,’ Omogbenigun said.”

It is most unfortunate that some conscienceless Nigerians in the persons of Funmi Omogbenigun (GM, MTN Corporate Affairs), Kabiru Kazaure (former Customer Relations Manager for northern region) and others have conspired and connived with the CNSSL Management in the persons of Engr. Gbenga Adebayo and Mr. Adebowale Ajiga to siphon the monthly entitlements of over 1,500 Jos Call Centre staffs during the course of their engagements with this ill-fated company – CNSSL for 2years.

Funmi Omogbenigun had earlier commented in March during one of the numerous staffs agitations for proper salary package, that the N35000/month paid to Jos Call Centre staffs in contrast to N96300 paid to their colleagues outside of Jos is as a result of ‘geographical location’. The question is - Are permanent MTN Jos staffs paid according to this same ‘geographical location’? Which makes it justified for Jos staffs to be paid one-third (1/3) of their counterparts salary elsewhere.

“Asked how MTN would manage its customers in Jos and its environs, Omogbenigun said the decision of CNSSL would not pose any challenge to MTN, as customer service could be controlled remotely from any location. ‘What MTN plans to do is to relocate the centre to other location that is peaceful,’ she said, while assuring customers of Jos and its environs of undisrupted service quality, even as it plans to relocate the centre.”

Again, it is not surprising that Funmi Omogbenigun has again come out to blackmail the good people of Plateau State, labeling them “assailants of the Call Centre staffs”, yet, your permanent staffs are all over the place including the same premises shared by the Call Centre staffs all working in peace, which they also attested to. Are you sure you are aware of the gravity of your actions and statements during the series of your cover-up and blackmail attempts? You and your cohorts shall reap the rewards in full, except you have been truthful.

Sequel to the series of blackmail attempts by CNSSL (who has never for once in history stated how much the Call Centre staffs are being paid to the public) on several functions on the Plateau State not sparing the State House of Assembly and Governor, An MTN CSO (Chief Security Officer) for northern region, Mr. Gambo came to Jos on a “fact-finding mission” on the 16th of July, 2012 requesting 10 working days before he gets back to the Staff Union, having met with the NLC Chairman, Call Centre staffs Union Excos & a few permanent staffs on ground. Where on earth is his report or findings? How come he never got back? The next move is this propaganda they call publication and their (CNSSL/MTN) to relocate the Call Centre, after having terminated even without paying accrued benefits (outstanding & terminal) of over 1,500 young men and women that have been enslaved for 2years on the Plateau.

Now, we await the eventual decision and possible actions of well-meaning MTN Nigeria Management on the fate of the Jos Call Centre & its staffs, before we proceed in conjunction with Labour group, State House of Assembly, Plateau Youth Council and Students’ Association with our rallies to the National Assembly, The Presidency and the Industrial Courts, until our jobs are restored and our entitlements fully and duly paid.

The truth shall eventually prevail and posterity will judge us all. There will always be light at the end of our tunnel fellow Nigerians.

Here are some of the links (threads) to confirm that the closure of the MTN Jos Call Centre by CNSSL was not as a result of ‘Insecurity’ but due to lingering wage crisis.

-Aggrieved Workers Threaten To Shutdown MTN Call Centre

http://nigerianobservernews.com/06022012/news/Other%20News/othernews1.html

-MTN staffers in protest against ‘slave wage’

http://blueprintng.com/2012/05/mtn-staffers-in-protest-against-slave-wage/

-NLC seals MTN call centre in Jos for ‘shortchanging staff’

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/nlc-seals-mtn-call-centre-in-jos-for-shortchanging-staff/

-Operators, unions at loggerheads over moves to unionise telecoms workers

http://www.punchng.com/business/operators-unions-at-loggerheads-over-moves-to-unionise-telecoms-workers/

-MTN: Jos Call Centre Workers Vow To Remain At Home

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=31857

-Confusion trails demands to unionise call center agents

http://www.itrealms.com.ng/2012/03/confusion-trails-demands-to-unionise.html

-Workers threaten to shut mtn Jos call centre

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/business/35860-workers-threaten-to-shut-mtn-jos-call-centre.html

-Workers Threaten To Shut Down MTN

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/02/06/workers-threaten-to-shut-down-mtn/

-Striking MTN workers urge customers to be patient

http://weeklytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9792:striking-mtn-workers-urge-customers-to-be-patient&catid=41:news&Itemid=30
FRONT PAGE PLEASE


A lot of injustices are going on in this country

earlier yesterday the House of Reps committee on communications began a probe into the wrongful termination of staff at the MTN jos call centre. Representing MTN Nig was Wale Goodluck he expressed regret at the closure of the call center and said despite their best efforts CNSSL couldn't reopen the call centre due to security reasons on the plateau. As at now no conclusion has been reached but MTN representatives and Engr Gbenga (CE0,CNSSL) have been asked to appear before the house committee on Wednesday 20th march

This is absolute wickedness