“Why we won’t be negotiating with NLC” -Telco bosses
Telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria have made it clear that they have no plans to engage with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) despite the congress’s threat to launch a strike over recent increases in telecom tariffs.
At a recent media conference, Tobe Okigbo, a spokesperson for MTN, emphasized that the telecom industry is not under any obligation to negotiate with the NLC. “No, we do not intend to respond to the NLC,” Okigbo said, adding that the sector operates under the framework of The Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN)
Okigbo went on to explain that the industry’s position on such matters is communicated through the association rather than directly with the NLC. “We have an industry association of experts, which is part of the larger industry body. Typically, larger bodies like ours will take a collective position, and that position will be conveyed to the relevant stakeholders,” he noted.
The MTN representative further clarified that the association had already communicated with the NLC in recent days. “A few days ago, our industry association wrote to the NLC, urging them to ‘leave this alone,’ citing the facts and reasons behind the tariff adjustments,” Okigbo said.
