Namaste,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you today:
- Ex-Wasoko staff to abandon lawsuit
- Why he worked in five companies in five years
- UK-based company acquires majority stake in 9Mobile
- Airtel could lose $4M monthly over NIN issues
Ex-Wasoko staff to abandon lawsuit
Ever seen a legal battle fizzle out because of financial strain? That’s exactly what happened with 9 former Wasoko employees.
They’ve decided to drop their wrongful termination lawsuit against the eCommerce company after a Kenyan court overturned an order that had forced Wasoko to keep them on payroll.
So, here’s the story: Nine former Wasoko employees have decided to drop their wrongful termination lawsuit against the company. This comes after a Kenyan court overturned a previous order that required Wasoko to keep them on payroll.
The situation heated up when the court gave the employees 21 days to prep for a pre-trial hearing, but they missed the deadline. With no plans for a new suit due to financial and time issues, the case is about to be dismissed.
One of the ex-employees mentioned that the cost of fighting the case, along with the risk of losing and potentially having to pay Wasoko, was just too high. Lawsuits can drag on for over three years, and most of them are currently out of work.
If they had won, Wasoko might have had to give them the same exit packages as the longer-serving employees. They felt it was unfair that they were getting less compared to those who had stayed with the company longer, especially since they had left stable jobs to join Wasoko.
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Wasoko said they followed the court's orders and all interim measures against them were lifted. However, the ex-employees argued that the court ignored their main points and used an affidavit signed under duress. They also felt the judge's handling of the case made it harder to win, increasing their risk and costs.
The lawsuit was filed after Wasoko announced its merger with Egypt’s MaxAB, which is still in the works and will involve rebranding. Wasoko has kept the exact details of the merger under wraps due to its sensitive nature.
Why he worked in five companies in five years
Why do you work? For me, it’s mostly about making money. But unlike some, I’m not keen on switching jobs every year. Maybe it's because I’m autistic — adjusting to a new workplace, with its unique culture and people, takes time.
Honestly, it takes me a while to get used to new things. For example, even after three years at Techpoint Africa, I still get anxious in meetings. So, while the salary is super important, I also pay close attention to the work culture whenever I’m considering a new opportunity.
But then there's Charles*, a digital marketer with a straightforward goal: making money. If changing jobs frequently helps him achieve that, he’s all in. He’s now on his fifth corporate job in five years.
Charles has worked in five different places, not counting freelancing. He spent two years in banking as a non-financial officer before diving into digital marketing, a skill he's had for years. Overall, he’s been working for over a decade, mostly freelancing, but with only five years in corporate roles.
He works to make money and to grow. According to him, humans are built to work and cultivate. He needs to work to support his lifestyle and family. It’s essential for meeting his needs and surviving.
Charles’ various roles have helped him manage life—eating out, buying groceries, paying school fees, financing loans, and saving up. Yet, he’s still on the lookout for more money.
Interestingly, Charles shared some fascinating stories—both the highs and the lows—that you won’t want to miss. Click this link to read Oluwanifemi's story and get all the details!
Airtel could lose $4M monthly over NIN issues
On Saturday, I got a call from a frustrated loved one because MTN Nigeria had blocked his SIM cards and told him he needed to link them with his National Identification Number (NIN).
He was caught off guard since he hadn’t received any recent warnings—though you could argue that’s debatable since telcos have been nagging users to link their SIMs with their NINs for ages. Out of nowhere, he couldn’t make calls or use the Internet.
He’s definitely not alone in this. Loads of MTN users are complaining on social media, saying they woke up to find their lines blocked with no notice, leaving them completely cut off.
This isn’t the first time MTN has pulled this stunt. Back in February 2024, they revealed they had disconnected 4.2 million lines due to unverified NINs. This crackdown caused a drop of over 6 million active subscriptions in Nigeria earlier this year.
On the other hand, Airtel is taking a different approach. While they’re also working on NIN verification, they’re not blocking customers right away or without a heads-up.
In fact, Airtel Africa is warning it could lose up to $4 million a month due to issues verifying about 4.9 million NINs as the July 31, 2024 deadline nears.
If you’re wondering why telcos are blocking users, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) ordered all telecom operators to disconnect lines with unverified NINs by the July 31, 2024 deadline.
Airtel’s CEO, Sunil Taldar, mentioned they’ve already verified 8.7 million customers since December 2023 and are pushing hard to get the rest sorted to avoid losing revenue.
Airtel is also sticking to the NCC’s rule of limiting SIMs to a max of four active numbers, and they’ve managed this with minimal revenue impact. They’re working with the NCC to speed up the verification process and prevent any service disruptions.
So, if you’re using Airtel, make sure you link your NIN to your SIM card before July 31, 2024. Also, remember you can’t have more than 4 SIM cards linked to your NIN.
UK-based company acquires majority stake in 9Mobile
LH Telecoms Limited, a UK-based company, has taken a majority stake in 9Mobile. They’ve got the green light from Nigerian regulators and injected a big capital boost, grabbing 95.5% of the shares.
With the new ownership, 9Mobile has revamped its board. Obafemi Banigbe steps in as the new CEO, and Thomas Etuh is the new Chairman.
The board also includes experienced figures like Nahim Abe Ibraheem, Femi Edun, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Michael Ikpoki, Ibrahim Puri, Gloria Danjuma, and Emmanuel Etuh. This new team is set to steer 9Mobile through its recovery phase.
This move follows talks last year about MTN Nigeria possibly acquiring 9Mobile, which sparked concerns about a potential monopoly. The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) even asked the NCC to block such a deal.
Additionally, 9Mobile saw a big drop in customers in early 2024, losing 6,443 subscribers, which was 72% of all network switchers during that period. Meanwhile, MTN, Airtel, and Globacom had much smaller losses.
What I'm watching
- 3 experts debunk common myths about work | James Suzman, Tyler Cowen, and Cal Newport
- Why is Africa Still So Poor?
Opportunities
- Are you a tech professional in Africa? Take a few minutes to fill this questionnaire about your job among others. You also stand a chance at winning 100 Euros.
- Flutterwave is hiring for several roles in many countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, India, and Egypt. Apply here.
- Ventures Platform has over 100 job openings across its portfolio companies. Apply here.
Have a productive week!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
