By Abass Jalloh
Sierra Leone Telecommunications Company Limited (Sierratel) has got five-man interim management committee to run its affairs.
The committee comprises a Chairman, Marketing Director, Sales Manager, Public Relations Officer, and the Secretary-General of the Sierra Leone Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees (SLUPTE), which will now indefinitely manage the operations of the company.
Between March and April 2022, Sierratel workers staged a strike action over lack of pay for six months and other benefits expected from the management.
Speaking at a press conference at the company’s headquarters in Freetown on Wednesday 15th June 2022, the Interim Committee Chairman, Francis Matturi stated that the customer service department’s work was disrupted for almost three weeks by the strike.
Matturi confirmed that the National Commission for Privatization (NCP) subsequently relieved members of management of their duties on 8th April 2022. But he said after his committee assumed office, the workers of the company called off the strike, returned to work on 12th April 2022, and resumed services to customers.
He also disclosed that two months outstanding salaries were paid to the staff within three weeks.
He said the company was now operating , and had stepped up revenue collection and achieved fibre connectivity to Bo, Kenema, Makeni, and Port Loko, adding that they had also engaged in a thirty-day promotion of their products and services.
On the company’s status, Matturi stated that it had been struggling with the transition process, including financial issues related to the welfare of the workers.
He said the company is faced with numerous challenges including ageing infrastructure, outdated technology, worn out vehicles and outstanding payments to workers.
He called for the infusion of capital into the enterprise, and for availability of provincial exchanges, and optimization of the network on 4G and ADSL.
Corporate Sales Manager, Augustine George said Sierratel has been operating in a “very competitive” environment as a telecommunication company.
He said much needs to be done because their existence has been threatened by the competitors.”
He said their major responsibility as sales team is to ensure they generate revenue for Sierratel and to also look at the wellbeing of their customers by providing services.
“Unfortunately, over the past months, there have been challenges with the provision of this services, but after the strike action much action has been taken by the committee to ensure services are provided again to our customers,” George stated.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (17/06/22)
