Justice Peter Lifu of the National Industrial Court in his judgment on Oct 26, 2016 ordered telecoms giants to pay 4years Gross Salary of 63 ex-MTN staff whose employments got terminated Nov 17, 2009 (READ HERE). Barely 3 weeks after,MTN Nigeria is yet to obey the court order which attracts 10% interest monthly in the “Unlawful Termination of Employment & Trade Restriction” suit filed against MTN Nigeria by 63 Ex-Staff at the National Industrial Court Ikoyi (Suit No: NICN/LA/596/2013)
On Nov 17, 2016 the former staffs’ lawyers AAA Chambers sent a letter reminding MTN Nigeria of the judgment and its position as no correspondence had been shared since October 26, 2016.
It was discovered that some unidentified staff had attempted not to acknowledge delivery of the judgement and also the letters immediately it was identified.
It took hours of arguments before the letters were acknowledged and copies sent to the Legal and HR departments and a third copy to the MD/CEO’s office.
A source within MTN Nigeria which claims anonymity informed that all MTN Nigeria staff were happy at the judgment as its long overdue. “We all rejoiced secretly in our offices when we heard the judgment as these former colleagues were and are still very good friends. They had gone through hell and so many suffered from the injustice. I don’t want to remember that fateful day these guys were marched out of the premises by fully armed security operatives with CRI Ambulances also on standby. We all wept because they were treated like criminals. They did nothing. Infact, they were all high flyers and pioneer staff. Two of them actually trained me. I hope MTN swallows its pride and pay them because all these negative stories in the past years is affecting the company’s public image.”
Another source informed AfricTelecomNews that the 63 former staff are planning to storm the HQ of MTN Nigeria (Golden Plaza) at Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday November 25, 2016 with select Trade Unions and family members to ensure the telecoms giant honour court orders. There will also be a press conference a day before at a yet to be disclosed location.
“The court gave MTN Nigeria one month from judgment date to comply with the court order and November 25, 2016 will make it 30days and if MTN fails to honour the judgment we will occupy MTN Nigeria’s HQ with union groups and our families” said one of the affected.
Will MTN Nigeria really swallow its pride and honour the court order on or beforeNovember 25, 2016 which makes it one month after one month or ignore the order and attract 10% interest on the 4 years gross salary to be paid the 63 former staff?
What happens if MTN Nigeria doesn’t honour the NIC judgment as ordered by the court as information has it that same judgment can’t not be appealed and also the duration to file an appeal has elapsed?
Who are those Management staff trying to play down the judgment within MTN Nigeria? Had MTN Nigeria Management communicated with MTN South Africa on the National Industrial Court judgment?
We all at AfricTelecomNews are watching event unfold in the next few days and will surely keep you updated.
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