From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
AS former Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), now Ntel, prepares to roll out it services into the nation’s market, indications are that over 4000 Nigerians will be employed in the organisation.
Speaking when a team from the firm paid a courtesy call on the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Head, Government Affairs for Ntel, Mr. Damian Udeh, confirmed that all labour matters were being managed appropriately and that till date, all staff of the enterprise were of Nigerian nationality.
“The company hopes to generate employment for over 4,000 Nigerians over the next five years,” he said.
However, Acting Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Dr. Vincent Akpotaire, advised them to come out with unique products to effectively compete with the existing networks.
Akpotaire gave the advice when the representatives of Ntel management led by Mr. Osondu C. Nwokoro, visited the Bureau to make presentation on the post-privatisation roll out plan on Tuesday April 5, 2016. He advised the Consortium to justify their emergence in the privatization process by deploying the right technology to turn around the sector.
The DG expressed satisfaction with NATCOM’s post-privatisation roll out plans assuring the team of the Bureau’s dedication to its responsibilities towards achieving the set objectives of privatising NITEL/ MTEL.
He said he was optimistic that NTEL would fill the position of a strong indigenous telecommunications service provider.
He pledged that the Bureau would work with the National Council for Privatisation (NCP) to resolve some outstanding issues in order to expedite the execution of the roll out plans.
Earlier, Nwokoro said NATCOM, the core investors of the defunct NITEL/MTEL with its outlined post-privatisation plans and milestones, is well positioned to justifying the privatisation initiative championed by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).