Abuja – Workers of Airtel Nigeria, a telecommunications giant, on Monday barracked the street leading to its corporate office in Asokoro District, Abuja, in protest against alleged unfriendly working conditions.
Mr Dele Adegbite, one of the protesters, said that they were protesting against their “cruel treatment” by the Airtel management.
“We are carrying out a peaceful demonstration to protest the manner the management of Airtel has enslaved the workers.”
Adegbite said the management had promised to increase their salaries but rather it came out with incentives contrary to what was previously agreed on.
He said that in spite of an annual bonus of 13 billion dollars made by the company, out of which more than 50 per cent came from Nigeria, the workers were still not paid their salaries.
“They have been taking us for a ride; they suspended our health care services and they removed our leave allowances.
“Pregnant workers have been denied maternity leave by the management.”
Another worker, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, said that the protest was not only in Abuja but also at the Lagos office which, he added, had been closed down because of the problem.
“As I am speaking now, this protest is not only here in Abuja; we have two call centres in Lagos, which have been closed down.”
Efforts to get reactions from the management of the company were unsuccessful as two of the officials refused to speak with NAN, saying they were not in a position to comment on the issue.
Airtel workers had on June 9 protested on the above issues, which resulted in a meeting between Airtel management and the Telecommunications and Postal Workers Union.
After the meeting, Airtel management resolved to address some of the issues raised by the workers but reneged. (NAN)
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Airtel workers protest again