By Chinelo Obogo
Microsoft’s decision to cut 6,000 jobs globally has raised concerns about the impact on its Nigerian operations. The company said the layoffs, which represent nearly 3% of its global workforce, are part of its plans to ‘restructure’ and ‘optimise efficiency’ as it focuses more on artificial intelligence.
The company’s Nigerian office, which experienced layoffs last year, is facing renewed uncertainty. In 2024, Microsoft downsized its African Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos, which employed around 200 workers, including over 120 engineers. Its office space in Lagos was also scaled down from six floors to two. But despite the changes last year, Microsoft said that its sales, marketing, and support teams in Nigeria remain operational. Though it is not certain if its Nigerian workers have been affected by the recent global layoffs, there are concerns about the implications for its Nigerian office and the country’s tech ecosystem.
It was reported that the company, which employed 228,000 full-time workers globally as of June 2024, did not provide specific details on the positions being cut. However, the layoffs are expected to affect employees at all levels and across various locations, with notices sent to affected employees on Tuesday.
In a statement, Microsoft said: “We continue to implement organisational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace.” The move followed a smaller round of performance-based layoffs earlier this year, but the 6,000 job losses represent the largest such reduction since Microsoft laid off 10,000 workers, or about 5 percent of its workforce, in early 2023.