MTN Nigeria has confirmed that 280 of its staff, approximately 15% of its workforce, have been relieved of their duties.

In a statement, the company said this happened on Friday April 28 and comes after the telco was able to finally implement a Voluntary Severance Scheme (VSS) designed to balance individual employee needs with business requirements.

The programme entails "drawing on feedback from employees and following consultation with elected employee representatives" and "provides a financial incentive and opportunity for employees who have worked with MTN for over 5 years to pursue other career interests and personal ambitions full-time, while increasing opportunities for professionals with a fresh perspective wishing to join the MTN family."

"Its (VSS) successful conclusion last week makes it possible for MTN to tailor the competence and experience base of its workforce to meet technology shifts and future business needs," reads the statement issued by MTN Nigeria's PR and Protocol Manager, Funso Aina.

"Our people are our greatest asset, each individual's knowledge, experience and ideas contributes to our continued growth and improvement. As such, ensuring a healthy and highly motivated workforce is a priority for us."

The telco adds that the move, aimed at ensuring that the company continues to execute its strategy of attracting, developing and retaining the best Nigerian talent, "is in line with the ongoing business transformation to drive sustained growth and thereby facilitate MTN's continued role as a partner for progress and socio-economic development in Nigeria."

Quoting an MTN official who requested anonymity, the News Agency of Nigeria reports that 200 of the workers disengaged applied for the VSS, while the remainder were compelled to do so.

It adds that the affected workers were given a severance pay based on their gross monthly income multiplied by the number of years they had worked with the company.