Nigeria: Nigeria Labour Congress supported the revocation of the sale of NITEL to Transcorp

[daily independent] Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday lauded the decision of the Federal Government on the revocation of the sale of 51 percent equity of Nigerian Telecommunications Plc (NITEL) to the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (TRANSCORP).

The organized labour in a statement by its General Secretary John Odah said within four months of the sale of the company in November 2006, it was clear to all that TRANSCORP lacked the managerial and technical competence to run NITEL.

It observed that the sale of the former communications giant was clothed in controversy as TRANSCORP which supposedly paid $500 million or 50 percent of the cost, made claims to 75 percent of the company.

He pointed out that Government's opinion in its reversal statement was an indication that TRANSCORP failed to make the required injection of funds within 100 days of the sale and contrary to its claims, had no international technical partner to run NITEL.

"With manifest incompetence, asset stripping and non payment of workers wages, only political considerations and a lack of will prevented the sale reversal within the first six months.

"Given the fact that NITEL in 2002 with 553,471 functional lines and a generated income at N53.41billion was a viable company, the NLC demands that all those who directly or indirectly contributed to running it aground should be investigated and charged to court, "the statement added.

NLC in its suggestion said those to be investigated should include those who mortgaged NITEL to the PENTASCOPE team in 2003.

Adding that Government and the new NITEL Technical Board should only accept unpaid salaries as liabilities while the over $500 million debt allegedly owed by TRANSCORP should be borne by TRANSCORP itself.

Odah said asset stripping of NITEL which includes the sale of its huge Training School in Lagos, Zonal Office in Falomo, Lagos, its Island Territory office, Lagos and Zonal Offices in Enugu and Bauchi should be investigated, culprits punished and property recovered.

Stressing that the company's landed property nationwide that have been sold should be recovered,

it called for the inclusion of labour in the new Federal Government's Technical Board of NITEL so as to protect the interests of the workers who have been at the receiving end of NITEL's gross-mismanagement since 2003.

Similarly, the Senior Staff Association of Communications Transport and Corporation (SSACTAC) has given full support to the withdrawal of the sale of 51 percent equity of NITEL to TRANSCORP, saying labour must be part of the technical board to chart a new course for the company

SSACTAC's National President, Adetunji Adesukanmi, said this in Lagos Tuesday while briefing the media on the way forward for the re-branding of NITEL to take its place as the communication giant of Nigeria.

He said "We give the Federal Government our full support over the withdrawal of the 51 percent equity of NITEL to TRANSCORP. It is a wise decision taken at the right time and direction and we advised the Government to carry along all stakeholders especially labour, to be part of the Technical Board that will chart a new course for the company."

Meanwhile, members of House of Representative Committee on Communications on Tuesday, called on Globacom to invest in NITEL and move from its position as a second national carrier to the position of the nation's national carrier.

The Committee members, led by its Chairman, Dave Salako and its Deputy Chairman, Khadija Ibrahim commended Globacom for its operations since 2003, demanding that Globacom should position itself as the nation's national carrier by investing fully in NITEL, since the Presidency has revoked the sale of NITEL to Transcorp.

Although the Committee commended Globacom for operating beyond the expectations of Nigerians, members equally challenged Globacom to further cut down on tariff and improve on call quality, as demanded by subscribers.

Addressing the management of Globacom, Salako said the visit will afford the Committee members the opportunity to have first hand knowledge of the facilities the company has.

Other areas that the Committee members want Globacom to look into includes interconnection rates between Globacom and other telcoms operators; co-location issue; and the commercial roll out f its fixed lines.

The Committee was worried that Globacom interconnect rates are high and that something urgent must be done to bring ease to subscribers.

Responding, Group Chief Operating Officer for Globacom, Mohammed Jameel thanked the Committee members for finding time to visit Globacom facilities as part of their oversight functions, despite their busy schedule.

Jameel assured the Committee members of Globacom's willingness to listen to the complaints of subscribers and that the company is doing everything possible to further cut down on tariff, haven crashed tariff across networks in 2003, when it introduced per second billing system.

NLC Hails Revocation Order On NITEL