Nigeria Telecommunication giant, MTN on Tuesday gave reasons why the company sack over two hundred of its workforce last Friday.
The majority of those affected in the shakeup were pioneer staff who joined the organisation in 2001 when the company began operation in Nigeria.
Explaining the rationale for the lay off of the affected staff, MTN spokesperson, Funso Aina, said the disengagement was part of an ongoing business transformation drive towards sustained growth, to facilitate the firm’s continued role as a partner for progress and socio-economic development in Nigeria.
According to him, “MTN is a diverse community of committed change agents, brought together in pursuit of a common goal – driving growth and transformation by sharing our technology. Our people are our greatest asset, each individual’s knowledge, experience and ideas contribute to our continued growth and improvement. As such, ensuring a healthy and highly motivated workforce is a priority for us”.
Aina further said that given the above scenario, the company decided to implement a Voluntary Severance Scheme, VSS, designed to balance individual employee needs with business exigencies of the company.
The scheme, he explained, was based on feedback from employees, following consultation with elected employee representatives.
Besides, he said the scheme provided a financial incentive and opportunity for employees, who had worked with MTN Nigeria for over five years, to pursue other career interests and personal ambitions full-time, while increasing opportunities for professionals with a fresh perspective to join.
Although about 200 permanent staff of the company voluntarily took up the VSS offered by MTN management, to enable them move on to face other challenges, the services of about 80 others, made up of those casual and contract workers, were dispensed of by management.
Mr. Aina said both categories of the affected workers, who received their letters last Friday, were given the same severance package in accordance with the number of years of service.
‘The successful conclusion of the VSS exercise last week makes it possible for MTN to tailor the competence and experience base of its workforce to meet technology shifts and future business needs,” he said.