INSIDE SOURCES:PROBLEM IN AIRTEL NIGERIA,COMPANY REDUCES STAFF SALARY

Sunil Bharti Mittal, the billionaire owner of Airtel

 Many would remember that over the past few months, there have remained several disagreements between staff of Airtel, Nigeria and the company’s management over several issues; issues which have led two 2 strike actions within the past 5 months. It should be noted that before now, Airtel’s Call Centre had been run by the subcontracted Nigerian firms: CCSNL, HR Index and Bezaleel.
 Barely three months after the Indians took over from ZAIN, they introduced their own Subcontracting firms: Tech Mahindra and Spanco BPO to ultimately take over from the Nigerians that have until now run the Abuja and Lagos call centre and the shops as well.
Fast forward: June, 2011. The Indians decided to make some organizational ‘adjustments’. Adjustments that led to the first strike action by the Abuja Call Centre agents. It was decided by the Company’s management that all staff who had gone on leave would be unpaid for those days not worked for; pregnant women to be indiscriminately sacked, termination of medical insurance and delay in the payment of June Salaries.
 This led to the first strike action which led to the total downing of tools by the Abuja Call Centre agents; an action which led to all customers’ calls being routed to the Lagos call centre. A day later, management had a change of mind and paid staff salaries, the payment of staff salaries that had been on leave and the enrolment of all staff in the National Health Insurance Scheme.
July 18, 20011. Airtel had declared excessive profits from the 2010 year and decided to award CERTAIN staff bonuses ranging into the millions of naira. One would think this largesse would go round all workers but the Indians decided that some staff where MORE EQUAL than others. Call Centre Agents that did 60% of the work were neglected. Also, staff that joined the call centre from November, 2010 till date were never given the benefits of staff lines prompting them to recharge their lines like any other network subscriber (imagine living by the ocean and washing your face with spittle).
 These issues led to a strike which involved the NLC that lasted over a week and a half. Finally, certain agreement were reached and the company promised to pay bonuses ON OR BEFORE 31ST AUGUST 2011 as contained in a communiqué issued to all staff; an agreement which it has not been acknowledged till date.
Monday, 19th September, 2011. After a meeting between Airtel Managent and their subcontracting Indian firms, Spanco Bpo, Tech Mahindra, and representatives of the workers union, it was decided unanimously by Airtel that ‘all staff salaries, effective from 1st October, 2011, would be reduced by at least 60%’ because “…the company needs to survive as the salaries were to hectic for the company to bear’.
 As such, call Centre Agents that have since the last two years earned N74,070 would now earn N29600; ‘Junior’ supervisors that have earned N180,000 would now earn N72,000 and some Assistant Managers that have earned N240,000 would now earn N96,000 per month!!!! Imagine Airtel ‘needing’ to survive after a $10.7 billion takeover of Zain, the highest ever trans-continental transaction
Now, with N29,600, how would Call Centre Agents, for instance, pay house rents that range between N80,000 and N450,000 in Lagos and Abuja, buy food, tend to their respective families/friends’ needs then clothe themselves. Seemingly, this is highly IMPOSSIBLE with the newly proposed Airtel salary structures. A corper, for intstance would earn as much as an Airtel Call Centre agent.
Sandeepn Nair, one of the mangers the Indians brought over was quoted to have said that the call centre job was a job not meant for graduates, since it was so in his country. He also claimed that he started work as a call centre agent in his country (a country that tolerates child labour) at the age of 14! Now at 29, his is a ‘proud’ call centre manager. There have been other indications that the proposed salary reduction was due to the ‘extravagant’ life styles (according to the Indians) of the call centre agents at the Abuja call centre.
 When one visits the Airtel Call Centre at Abuja during a typical shift, several flashy cars are seen parked and it could be mistaken for a car shop. The Indians on the other hand who earn FAR MORE than the workers still chatter cabs to take them to their various destinations. Also, at the staff canteen, while at least 3 Indian mangers ALWAYS share a plate of rice with a bottle of 7up, call centre agents eat lavishly, and individually as well. (Seriously, no pun intended).
One thing the Indians REALLY need to understand is to ‘act like Romans while in Rome’. This is Nigeria! The fact that India permits child labour, Indian-call-centres-run-by-school-drop-outs and the unschooled and peanuts being earned as salaries doesn’t mean it can work in Nigeria. Nigerians would prefer to ‘get rich or die trying’. Fact!
 Unless a consensus is reached between Airtel’s management and Workers union before 30th September, 2011 on NO SALARY REDUCTION, don’t be surprised when you call the Airtel Call Centre with your line’s issues and being unable to go through. Workers are ready to down tools again for as long as possible to press home their demands as there is a planned match to the National Assembly to press home issues.
It should be noted that inhumane working conditions are also being experienced by workers at the Indian run Delta Steel Company at Aladja, Warri, Delta State.eleme petro chemical port Harcourt
 Ps: kindly forgive if the word “Indian(s)” used mostly in this article sounds racist. This is because ‘a spade has to be called a spade’

COUPLES OF THE WEEK

Obiora Obiwon, a music star and composer is our pick for the week.The university of Nigeia graduate recently got married to Ngozi Ezeife, his long time girlfriend.
 They look very happy together. We congratulate them. And to those top stars who keep 'sampling' all naija babes and lying to the media that they have not seen the right woman, well...
 In a related development, Gistmaster gathered that top Lagos socialite and Chairman of Atlantic Autos, Chief Charles Ahinze who got married recently to Maureen a former beauty queen (She was Miss Malaika) is already rocking his honeymoon with every line of enjoyment. The couple choose Dubai and UK as their honeymoon destination point. 
-By Niyi Tabiti

NIGERIA BANS SAME SEX MARRIAGE

  Unlike some parts of Europe and United States where same sex marriage is legally permitted between homosexuals and lesbians, the Nigerian Government has condemned it, saying that the practice is immoral and ungodly.
Gistmaster gathered from the bill passed today by the Nigeria Senate (upper house of parliament), anyone who contract same marriage would be arrested and charged to court. The punishment attracts jail term. Anyone seen to have also encouraged such marriage would also be punished jailed but with an option of N50,000 as fine.
 President Goodluck Jonathan will have to sign the bill before it can finally become law. Those in the know strongly believe that Nigerian president will not think twice before signing it into law.

KOKOMASTER, DBANJ NOT ARRESTED FOR COCAINE SMUGGLING-DON JAZZY TWEETED

  Award winning producer and leader of Mo'hits records, Don Jazzy has denied recent insinuations that Dbanj was arrested in New York for smuggling substance suspected to be Cocaine. Don Jazzy tweeted about it some days ago, laughing at the report which he tagged baseless and unfounded.
 He disclosed that Dbanj was never in New York at the time the incident reportedly happened.Rather D'banj was on his way from Ghana to Lagos, so how come Dbanj was arrested, could it have been that he needed a transit visa from New York before he can come from Accra to Lagos? he queried.
 Gistmaster gathered that ever since the story of Dbanj's arrested hit town, he has not been happy at all. Ofcourse, he is thinking towards the direction of detractors  who are jealous of his success in the industry.
  D'banj, real name Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo has become one of Nigeria's highest earning music stars. He released his debut album No Long Thing in 2005 and ever since then, he profile has been on the rise. At his second album launch, he had the likes of Governor Fashola of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others in attendance.
Dbanj is currently signed on GOOD music owned by American born music star Kanye West
-By Niyi Tabiti

234next NEWSPAPER STOPS PRINTING

 Dele Olojede the publisher of 234Next Newspaper has finally stopped the print edition of the newspaper.Olojede told Associated Press recently that a number of factors 'collided' together in making it difficult for the newspaper company to continue printing. However, he assured that the newspaper will continue with its online editions.
 In Nigeria, politicians and their friends are seen as the biggest spenders in advertising, something 234next never subscribed to. The advertising fortune of the company dwindled thereby forcing many of the staff to resign when they could not be paid salaries.

HOW LOVE CHILD BROKE MOCHEDDA AND SKUKI's RELATIONSHIP

 Atewo a.k.a Peeshaun, who happens to be the younger of the musical group-Skuki was in an intense relationship with stunning female artist Modupe Oreoluwa a.k.a Mo'cheddah from early 2010 up until early 2011. They hooked up and got close when Skuki was having a series of recording sessions in the Knighthouse studios and at the same time Mo'cheddah was rounding up on her Franchise Celebrity album. Many times Peeshaun would stay behind to support and watch his talented girlfriend as she recorded during late night sessions.

The relationship enjoyed the support and well-wishes of close friends and relatives. Mo'cheddah's elder sister - LOLA, was particularly fond and encouraging of the couple. Everything was well concealed from the public and press; Mo'cheddah and Peeshaun made it a point of call not to stay too long around each other at events just to avoid attention.

All was smooth sailing for the young couple and getting more serious by the day up until late 2010, when Mo'cheddah discovered a shocking story from Peeshaun's past which he had hidden from her since they started dating.

With the fame and popularity that came from showbiz and the powerful ability of modern day social networks in connecting people e.g. Facebook, twitter, Mo'cheddah innocently made friends with individuals that knew something's from her boyfriends past that she didn't.

What came to her knowledge however was that a few years ago, while peeshaun was still studying LAW in the University of Ibadan, he bore a child- A baby girl, with a fellow student in the same institution. The child and its mother were flown to the UK by the girl's parent, where the girl continued her tertiary education. The mother of the child is unknown to many, but the child is said to be about 3 or 4years of age.

This revelation led to the crumbling of Mo'cheddah's relationship with Peeshaun in early 2011. As devastated and emotional as Modupe became about the news and proximate to the time she just learnt the truth, she couldn't find herself staying too long around her boyfriend. She was still yet to make up her mind if she would continue with the relationship or call it quits, she made it clear to close friends that even thought it was not in her plan to date a man who already had a child, but that was not her main hurt. What hurt her most was that she felt she should have been told the truth from the onset.

Modupe was to make a trip to south Africa in january 2011 with the Skuki brothers to shoot the video of their 2nd single 'STAMINA' but with the emotional tension between her and Peeshaun at the time, the joint trip was cancelled and she shot her part of the video in Nigeria.

Recently the couple were seen together outside the marine spot of the new Radisson blu hotel victoria Island Lagos, having somewhat of a heated argument.

Speculations have it that they might be coming back together soon as love is an understatement in describing what the two still feel for each other.

SMIRNOFF MIDNIGHT CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN

  It’s the countdown to 12 November 2011 - the date when the party phenomenon that has been sweeping the globe will truly change the nightlife landscape forever. 

On this night party goers here in Nigeria will paint the town red with thousands of other fun lovers around the world in a wave of specially created original and unforgettable experiences that will kick off in 50 countries around the globe including Brazil, the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Vietnam, Thailand and Australia - all hosted by Smirnoff Vodka, the world’s most popular spirit brand.
Those lucky enough to be at any of the events can expect to be thrilled and amazed by a once-in-a-lifetime evening that will include extraordinary and spectacular entertainment, the most incredible music from the world’s most popular DJs, the chance to enjoy amazing Smirnoff cocktails mixed by the best barmen in the world and a special collaboration with Madonna.
The experience will come to life in Lagos in a spectacular event entitled The Smirnoff Midnight Circus and will be fronted by a Ringmaster - none other than our own Ikechukwu, the award winning rapper behind such hits as ‘Escalade Part 2,’ and ‘My Name is Ikechukwu.’  He is already incredible and at the Smirnoff Midnight Circus he will put on a spectacle that will leave the crowd dazzled and breathless. 
Look out for Ringmaster Ikechukwu in the run up to the Smirnoff Midnight Circus events as he and his team will also be making surprise stops at bars and clubs around Nigeria.  If they see you enjoying Smirnoff Ice or Smirnoff Vodka they will award you a ticket which admits you and a friend to the Smirnoff Midnight Circus.
And that’s not all.  Smirnoff and Ikechukwu have promised a special treat to Nigerian fans who want to try their hand at rapping. On September 30th at exactly Midnight, Ikechukwu will load a beat on to the Smirnoff Nigeria Facebook page. If you would like a shot at stardom and you think you have what it takes to perform with Ikechukwu on the Smirnoff Midnight Circus stage download this beat and record a verse over it. Upload your performance to Youtube and post the link on Facebook to enter the competition. The winner will also get an iPad and will be featured in Ikechukwu’s next video.
To be the first to know about the Smirnoff Midnight Circus and to get involved in all the great stuff Smirnoff has in store for fun lovers and seekers of cool, keep a careful watch on the Smirnoff Nigeria Facebook page www.facebook.com/smirnoffnigeria
The Smirnoff Midnight Circus is a must-attend for people who live to party but truly know how to enjoy life responsibly. You must be 18 years or above to participate.
Smirnoff Midnight Circus - Be there!