Telecoms workers vow to resist sack over NIGCOMSAT sale

President of NUPTE Comrade Sunday Alhassan, who ‎made this declaration in a briefing with newsmen in Abuja over the weekend, said the union, with support of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will resist both the sack of the workers and the privatization of the organisation.The union said it has already written the Minister of Communication […]

President of NUPTE Comrade Sunday Alhassan, who ‎made this declaration in a briefing with newsmen in Abuja over the weekend, said the union, with support of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will resist both the sack of the workers and the privatization of the organisation.
The union said it has already written the Minister of Communication Technology on May 5, 2015 on their position to resist the privatization and sack.
“As a union, we wish to state unequivocally that workers of NIGCOMSAT are vehemently resisting the planned privatization.
“We are also aware of the on-going workers review, rationalization and downsizing in NIGCOMSAT which is to exit about 150 workers. As a union, we are at a loss as to why the planned privatization should start with rationalization of workers,” he said.
He queried the practice by the country’s major agencies like the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Nigeria Television Authority among others, who patronise foreign satellite band-with service providers while not subscribing to NIGCOMSAT.
 According to him, the organisation is playing a vital role in the ongoing pilot scheme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s cashless policy, adding that NIGCOMSAT will generate 2.4 million dollars annually at the end of the scheme.