The Nigeria LabourCongress (NLC), onTuesday, threatened to ground and shut down all operations of one of the country's Global System of Mobile telecommunications, GSM, Airtel Nigeria over its (Airtel) decision to sack hundreds of its workers on the eve of Nigeria's 51st independence anniversary.Addressing a press conference along with the affected Airtel workers at the Labour House yesterday, NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, said the NLC and the labour movement would not allow Airtel to do business in Nigeria 'if it denies workers their fundamental human rights.'He further said: 'Airtel decided that its call centres and other places where these members of staff work should be closed and new staff recruited. When on September 30, 2011, on the eve of our country's independence anniversary, the staff reported for work, they were shocked to find their offices shut.'Since Airtel and its partners in the enslavement of Nigerians decided to close the offices, the NLC will ensure they remain shut. The labour movement will not allow Airtel to do business in Nigeria if it denies workers their fundamental human rights and that of unionisation which is guaranteed under section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution.'Meanwhile, Airtel Nigeria said in Lagos, on Monday, that it had not sacked any of its employees and did not have any intention of cutting staff salaries.Mr Jibril Saba, the organisation's director, Human Resources, disclosed this at a media briefing following messages circulating in cyberspace, alleging that the company had fired 3,000 call centre agents.'Airtel is committed to realising its vision of being the most loved brand in Nigeria and will continue to ensure that the dialogue between its call centre partners and their employees is fruitful and productive.'We want to state categorically that as world class organisation, we offer our employees remuneration and benefits comparable to standards across the world and in compliance with the working and labour laws of Nigeria,' he said.Saba noted that 'the activities of some disgruntled agents are capable of frustrating investors with good intentions and making nonsense of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).'In another development, the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, summoned the management of Airtel to appear before it over the reported sack and replacement of 1,000 Nigerians in its employment with foreigners.Disturbed by this development, a member of the assembly, Lanre Oshun, under matters of urgent public importance, called the attention of the lawmakers to what he described as an ugly development and stressed the need for the House of Assembly to carry out a thorough investigation.Oshun said this became imperative in view of its economic effect not only on the affected workers but the state as a whole.He said that about 1,000 Nigerians were sacked and replaced with Indian nationals who were invited to the country, adding that, the assembly should investigate the criteria used for downsizing and recruiting.
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