Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is facing potential disruptions as the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association (PTCOSA) has launched a strike action. The union, which represents over 800 workers across various telecom companies, has warned of a nationwide impact on telecommunications services.

In a statement on Monday, PTCOSA Secretary-General Okonu Abdullahi announced the strike, citing several grievances including the reinstatement of dismissed workers, improved working conditions, recognition of the union, and proper remittance of membership dues. Abdullahi emphasized that the strike was a last resort due to the challenging working conditions and the employers’ failure to acknowledge workers’ union rights.

“The strike has become inevitable due to the poor working conditions our members are facing, the refusal to recognize their right to unionize, and the unjust dismissal of three union members,” Abdullahi said. He warned of significant disruptions, stating that the strike would affect response times to service outages, potentially impacting subscribers across various regions.

In response, Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), dismissed the strike as led by a group not affiliated with its members. “This group is not recognized by us in ALTON, and the companies mentioned are not part of our association,” Adebayo stated.

The strike poses a significant threat to the telecommunications infrastructure, with potential repercussions for millions of subscribers if the workers’ demands are not addressed promptly.