Chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria Karl Toriola on Monday confirmed that the company would implement the vaccine mandate given by MTN Group across its operations from January 2022 to protect the health and safety of the workplace and communities.
“The new policy further demonstrates our steadfast dedication to keeping our people and the communities we work and live in safe and healthy,” Mr Toriola said.
“While there may still be some unknowns related to this pandemic, the science is clear – vaccines effectively prevent severe illness, hospitalisation and death. It is time for everyone who can, to get vaccinated to limit the spread of the virus and prevent further strains from developing.”
According to MTN Group, its new vaccine policy would be subject to risk assessment and local laws that apply to it and its operating subsidiaries.
The company said it also recognises the right of employees to apply to be exempted from the policy and/or refuse vaccination on certain clearly defined grounds.
“For those staff who are not exempt from vaccinations either through risk assessment or agreed exclusions but still refuse vaccination, MTN will not be obliged to continue the employment contract,” the company said.
In addition, MTN Nigeria, alongside the MTN Group, added its voice to growing calls for global leaders to accelerate vaccine equity and lift travel bans imposed on African countries.
“The events of the past twenty months have underlined how connected and interdependent we all are. Such travel restrictions have proven to be counterproductive, hampering research, aid and economic activity without any significant impact on the spread of new variants. If the past is prologue, then the only way through this is together, and it is time to set side geographical divisions and heed calls for greater vaccine equity. If Africa had access to vaccines at the same time as the rest of the world, then we might not face the challenge that these new variants represent,” Toriola added.
The new mandatory vaccination policy follows the group’s $25million donation to the African Union’s COVID-19 vaccination programme.
