Aloha,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you:
- MTN Nigeria closes all offices after customer protests
- Junior developer roles aren't at risk due to AI yet
- Lagos State to tax remote workers
- 22 reasons why Meta is appealing a $220M fine
MTN Nigeria closes all offices after customer protests
MTN has closed all its offices and customer service centres across Nigeria after a weekend of customer outrage. Many customers had their lines disconnected, and despite the NCC's order to reactivate them, some lines still weren't working, leading to escalations.
In a viral video, customers in Lagos tore down the fence of an MTN office in FESTAC town and stormed the area in protest. It's not clear if they got inside the building.
The Lagos State Police stepped in to restore order, with the local DPO and his team quickly calming the situation.
MTN announced they’re shutting down all offices for the day but are available 24/7 through digital channels.
Junior developer roles aren't at risk due to AI yet
What does the future hold for junior developer roles with AI on the rise? The anxiety about "AI taking your job" is still buzzing in 2024, echoing concerns from last year.
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As AI tools become better at handling technical tasks with smart prompts, some founders are thinking of replacing junior developers with AI that can generate code for senior developers to refine. This shift might cut down the demand for junior devs in an already crowded job market.
So, what does this mean for tech training programmes that promise job opportunities? Whether it's a 2-week bootcamp or a year-long course, are these graduates still attractive to recruiters?
Oluwanifemi spoke with tech training founders and senior developers to find out how long training should be to ensure candidates are job-ready.
Views on training duration vary. Some think shorter, intensive programmes can be just as effective as longer ones. While there's concern about AI's impact, it hasn't yet made a big dent in the junior developer job market, so its full effects are still unfolding.
For now, things like economic issues, hiring freezes, and lean teams are more pressing than AI's impact. The demand for junior developers is shaped by a mix of factors, with AI's influence still emerging.
To tackle these challenges, tech training institutes need to focus on producing job-ready talent. For more insights, check out Oluwanifemi’s story.
22 reasons why Meta is appealing a $220M fine
Remember this? Nigerian regulator slaps Meta with a $220M fine
Just to refresh your memory: The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) accused WhatsApp of violating Nigerian data protection laws, claiming their data collection was excessive and could lead to invasive tracking.
They also hinted that WhatsApp's practices in Nigeria were tougher than in Europe, suggesting Nigerian users were getting the short end of the stick. Consequently, it slapped the company with a $220M fine.
So, what? WhatsApp is fighting back against the $220 million fine slapped on it by the FCCPC. It’s challenging the fine with 22 reasons, claiming the FCCPC’s investigation was flawed and the demands are unreasonable.
So, what’s WhatsApp saying? It argues the FCCPC’s demands are too vague and don’t consider the real-world challenges of running its service.
The company points out that it’s updated its privacy policy to give Nigerian users more control and suggests giving users an opt-out option instead. WhatsApp also says Nigerian laws don’t require pre-approval of privacy policies and disputes the need to revert to an older policy from 2016.
What’s more, WhatsApp is saying the FCCPC didn’t follow proper procedures, including not having the Executive Vice-Chairman’s signature on the order. The company also claims it was denied a fair hearing and that the fine’s demands are impractical, especially given the costs of implementing new data-consent mechanisms.
Lagos State to tax remote workers
Lagos State plans to boost its revenue by ₦200 billion yearly through a new tax on remote workers and digital influencers. They’re rolling out a digital tax system as part of their push to hit ₦5 trillion in internal revenue.
Globally, remote workers are taxed differently: in the United States, taxes depend on where you live, which can mean paying in multiple states. In the UK, remote workers are taxed like regular employees, while some countries offer digital nomad visas allowing remote work with local tax obligations.
In Lagos, the new tax system aims to capture revenue from remote workers and digital influencers through a digital platform that manages everything from licensing to data collection, ensuring that anyone earning income in Lagos contributes to the city’s tax base.
The new system will manage taxes for digital economy players and includes features like an e-Portal and Market Place. They're investing ₦250 million into setting up this system.
Other initiatives include a public data marketplace, a fintech hub, and several new centres focused on software development, digital acceleration, and advertising. They’re also working on blockchain tech and collaborating with the federal government on a Digital Service Tax.
The goal is to unlock ₦2.73 trillion more in revenue, with the digital economy alone expected to bring in ₦750 billion.
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