MTN shuts Abuja office over NLC protests

The MTN office in Maitama, Abuja, has been shut after continuous picketing of its offices nationwide by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

On Monday, members of the union had laid siege on MTN offices in cities across the country, protesting the high percentage of casual staff and the company’s alleged directive restricting staff from partaking in union activities.

NAN’s correspondent, who visited the office, reports that it was locked with only policemen and other security personnel outside the gate.

The leadership of the union and other members had barricaded the head office of the company in Lagos for about eight hours, preventing workers from carrying out their daily duties.

A security man, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN in Abuja that there was a directive from the MTN headquarters in Lagos that all staff of the organisation should not come to work until further notice.

“Maybe it is because of the protest by some people in our office in Lagos,” he said.

“We were told to come to the office but all other staff of the organisation were asked to stay at home till further notice.”

The protest in Lagos was led by  Ayuba Wabba, the NLC president.

“There are a lot of anti-labour practices by the company, which include denying the workers freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining,”  Wabba said.