The Nation Newspaper

Category: Business

  • Experts seek more training for estate surveyors

    Experts seek more training for estate surveyors

    •’Focus on aircraft, oil and gas installations’

    FOR surveyors estate and valuers to be relevant, they should embrace training in valuation and acquisitions, a past president and Fellow of the American Society of Appraisers, Mr Leslie H. Miles, has said.

    He spoke at the international seminar on plant and machinery organised by the Faculty of Plant and Machinery of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV) in Lagos.

    He said the opportunity offered by wealthy Nigerians who have high taste for private jets presents a unique chance for surveyors to put their training at the disposal of the society who are in need of it.

    He stressed that the profession is not only about the ‘letting agency’ , but that practitioners should step up to the more challenging and technical aspect of the profession which encompasses the valuation of aircraft , oil and gas installations.

    He said a surveyor could only be competitive with self-development in other areas to acquire the rudimentary knowledge they need to value such high value assets for clients.

    Miles, who is on the Faculty of the American Society of Appraisers Education Committee, encouraged networking with his colleagues to remain relevant.

    He also said in appraising an aircraft, the key knowledge needed include the year it was manufactured, model and what use the aircraft is put into.

    The questions to ask, he said, should also include, identifying if it is a cargo aircraft, special use airplane and an air plane kept in the museum as static display.

    According to him, the understanding of the specification of the item to appraise is of almost importance to arrive at a no controversial appraisal figure.

    Earlier, chairman, Faculty of Plant and Machinery of the institution, Mr Paul Osaji, said they decided on the theme due to their belief that aviation is key to any economy, especially when there is a heightened interest in the acquisition of private jets by wealthy Nigerians.

    He said estate surveyors need to be trained and retrained on how to effectively value and appraise aircrafts and related objects. He said : “ The value of businesses are growing and most chief executives need to move around quickly, safely and conveniently in their own jets but they need to be guided in terms of pricing and maintenance after the purchase. It’s one thing to spend a fortune to acquire a jet and another to maintain it to the extent that it will have a second hand value.”

    Osaji said there is no better time to get the training than that the nation has moved from having 50 private aircraft to 200 to prevent air mishaps due to improper maintenance by the owners or age valuation of the aircrafts before purchase.

    He said they have the adequate training and expertise to do valuation on any type of asset.

  • UNILAG, firm set to collaborate on geophysics

    Verity Geosolutions, an integrated geophysical solutions provider to hydrocarbon exploration and production company is collaborating with the University of Lagos, Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Sciences on research to develop technology solutions for the oil and gas industry.

    The collaboration, The Nation was informed, wouldpromote the development of best practice, workflows and explorative methods for Geophysics practitioners in Nigeria.

    The Group Managing Director of the company, Abayomi Adejonwo, said the partnership is intended to strengthen the use of research in developing geophysics for the oil and gas industry.

    Adejonwo said the company was committed to ensuring that for seismic data acquisition and analysis, there was a more stringent monitoring and implementation of how some of the companies actually used the Nigerian content.

    According to him, there should be more emphasis on technology to discourage the commercial agents who actually act as middle men between the actual international oil technology providers and Nigerian companies.

    He said emphases should be laid on the ways some of the companies were embarking and transferring technologies, adding that the company would continue to lead the technological courses by providing trainings to students, industry practitioners as well as service providers.

    He said the company had completed the installation of 240 Central Processing Unit (CPU) of power Edge dual core servers, several high-end workstations, high capacity two phase Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) and Cisco-based telecommunication systems at its Lagos office.

    He said this would provide avenue for oil and gas reserves increase and reduction in the overall cost of exploration, development and production of oil fields. The technology, he said would also boost local development of advanced geophysical solutions to the oil and gas business in Nigeria.

    “With the installation of this equipment, we are moving closer to the realization of our vision to be the leading provider of geophysical services in Nigeria and West Africa as well as meeting the increasing demand for our technologies”, he said.

    Meanwhile, the Head of Department of Geosciences,Professor Ayolabi Elijah, agreed that the university was partnering with the company in terms of research to develop the technology needed for the Nigerian oil and gas industry for greater output.

    He said the group’s effort would give the academic staff the opportunity to contribute its own research to the development of the oil and gas industry as well giving the company the opportunity to use the best brains from the academy.

     

  • EasyPact circuit breakers here

    Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, has announced the release of the EasyPact™  CVS range of Class II moulded case circuit breakers (MCCB) forlow-voltage applications from 100 to 630 Amps.

    Designed to meet the requirements of the majority of common protection applications inmedium-sized commercial and industrial buildings, the new circuit breakers deliver a level of performance and cost-saving functionality that isunusual in their price range.

    Adjustable thresholds and a service breakingcapacity rated at 100 per cent of the ultimate breaking capacity enhancethe reliability and life cycle of the products while reducing servicingcosts. Its compact, modular design and field-installable accessoriesshared with other offer ranges help to simplify ordering, stocking and installation. Around the globe, construction and upgrade budgets have become muchtighter.

    The new EasyPact CVS breakers will help panel builders adapt to customers’ budgets while delivering required capabilities and the brand quality of a global leader in energy managementand protection,’ said, Country president for Schneider Electric Nigeria, Marcel Hochet. ‘The range leverages our expertise in precision designand manufacturing, delivering exceptional value to our customers’.

    Schneider Electric has designed the EasyPact CVS range to be simple and safe during installation, operation, and maintenance.

    The robust circuitbreakers are suitable for isolation, guaranteed to the IEC 60947-2 standard, and provide a highly visible and lockable contact position indicator to ensure operator confidence. Extended current limiting and thermal protection can greatly reduce the stresses on equipment due to short circuits and their associated effects. Earth leakage protection can be added by installing a Vigi™ CVS option module. In the event of a circuit fault, simple visual indicators help maintenance personnel quickly locate the tripped breaker and take steps to correct the problem.

    To ensure a low total cost of ownership, the EasyPact CVS range features a modular design that adapts to changing needs. Basic accessories and a logical part numbering scheme are shared with the rest of Schneider Electric MCCB family, helping optimize stocking while reducing effort and the potential for ordering errors. Products in the EasyPact CVS range also feature a compact footprint similar to other Schneider Electric MCCB ranges, which can help reduce switchboard dimensions and installation times.

    Manufactured from premium materials in ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certified production plants, the EasyPact CVS range of circuit breakers are fully tested and certified by national, international, and third-party organisations to all relevant safety standards. Reflecting the company’s comprehensive approach to environmental responsibility, the products comply with all environmental standards for manufacturing, including RoHS and REACH, and are engineered for easy disassembly and recycling.

    The EasyPact CVS range of circuit breakers is available now from Schneider Electric.

  • Govt rethinks concession of Lagos-Ibadan road

    Govt rethinks concession of Lagos-Ibadan road

    How will the public interest best be served? Is it by concessioning the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway or by throwing it open in a competitive bidding? With Works Minister Mike Onolememen saying the road will be handed over to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to advertise for bidders after its ongoing rehabilitation, the days of concession may be numbered, writes OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE.

    The Federal Government may have made a ‘u’ turn on the consessioning of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following the revocation of its agreement with Bi-Courtney Highway Service (BHS). The government revoked Bi-Courtney’s contract to build operate and transfer (BOT) the road following what it called “serial breaches of the concession, especially the company’s failure to reach financial closure as provided for in the agreement”.

    Works Minister Mike Onolememen told The Nation that the road would be handed over to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to advertise for bidders after the ongoing remedial by Julius Berger and RCC. Julius Berger and RCC, he said, were hired to do emergency reconstruction of the road to reduce carnage and enhance safety preparatory to full reconstruction.

    The minister said: “The previous concession agreement entered into by government had an exit clause, we initiated and terminated the agreement based on what was provided in the contract. In India three road concession agreements were cancelled because there was no financial closure. There is nothing unusual about what we have done.”

    Onolememen said BPE would do its work by pre-qualifying contractors after the ministry has approved the design for the highway.

    The Nation learnt from a source that the price may be scaled down from the over N89 billion to about N60 billion as the road will not be concessioned again.The source also revealed that government may reach an agreement with the former concessionaire to trade the design of the road for a fee since they already have done extensive work in coming up with the design of the road.

    Noting that part of the reasons the rehabilitation of the road was delayed the source said government will prefer to hit the ground running with what is available but certainly the source was too sure that the Federal Government has kissed bye-bye to the concessioning of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. On the likely firms that may get the job, the highly placed source said the two companies would be given top priority due to their track record and the fact that they have an agreement with the Federal Government in Lagos and many other parts of the country.

    Furthermore he said in ranking Julius Berger may get it since they are known to handle high technical jobs in difficult terrain for the government before now.

  • Land Use Charge not to victimise anyone, says Oshiomhole

    Land Use Charge not to victimise anyone, says Oshiomhole

    The Edo State Land Use Charge Law 2012 is not targeted at punishing the rich or poor, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said.

    Addressing reporters after signing the law in Benin City, the Edo State capital, the governor said: “We will enforce the rule of law because no one is above the law. Government must continuously protect the weak and provide for them by taking from the rich to help the poor. This government will not victimise anybody. Tax laws are compulsory levies and not something you voluntarily buy into. No law is made at the convenience for anyone. That is why law is a leveller for all categories of persons. I have the trust of Edo people and I will not betray that trust.”

    If the rich must protect their investments and riches, he further said, they must pay their taxes and other levies that would help the government to provide the essential services that would make their investment safe.

    The law, according to him, is targeted at anyone who owns a house that occupies more than 100 by 100 square metres.

    “We understand that everybody uses land, but the amount of it that we use differs. That is why the law is targeted at the propertied class in order to help our poor population of people who are in the rural areas and urban slums. In places where you have family houses, rural settlers, the law will not apply to them. If you are like me, who has a modern structure or building, you will have to pay tax, because my house occupies more than 100m by 100m square metres”.

    He said the aim was to encourage those who use more land to pay for the government so that the government can cater for the greater population of our people who are predominantly poor, adding: “This is a pro-development law. I have seen and listened to commentators who have not read the law but are already condemning it. That is not the way to go about it.”

    He warned that anybody who flouts the law would be prosecuted. It is a criminal offence for you to evade taxes, the governor warned.

    He explained that the law provides for a consolidated approach to collection of levies and taxes or charges but has a proviso of exemption of certain categories of persons. For example, Section 9 subsections 1(a-i) specify clearly those who are exempted from the property tax. Such as properties owned and occupied by religious bodies, approved exclusively for religious worship or any other non-profit making religious education are exempted; ditto for public cemeteries, burial grounds, public libraries, palaces, and any other property exempted by the Governor through notice published in the State Government Official Gazette.

    Others exempted, he stated, are owner occupier residential property, which is 100metre by 100metre maximum in a non-choice area of an urban area, 100 metre by 100metre in a non-choice area in a rural setting, community property solely for community meetings, activities and events; owner occupier pensioner property and owner occupier of over 60 years old; and the last but not the least, family compound.

    He stressed that the exercise of the governor’s discretion over exemption would be guided by the reports of the assessors of any property to ensure that the right status is ascertained before any tax is imposed on it.

    The law, the Governor, said provides for a Tax Assessment Review Tribunal, which shall be set up pursuant to Section 46 of the Administrative Structure Law of Edo State.

    He said the Tribunal will have powers to summon any one to examine him, and require answers to any question, which it may deem fit to put concerning an appeal before it; and administer oaths and affirmations as well as enforce the production of all books and documents which it may consider necessary.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Public Affairs Prince Kassim Afegbua said the law is not what cynics are saying about it.

    According to him, the Governor means well for the people of the state because he wants to execute several development initiatives, which will have direct impact on the people.

    Rather than raise dust over the law where none exists, Afegbua counselled that the Governor should be applauded for coming up with a law that is on the side of the poor and vulnerable who are in greater number against the rich that have continued to be greatest exploiter of the goods and services of government.

    “If we must help the poor which is the motivation of the Governor, we must take from the rich and propertied class to bridge the gap of inequalities. Nobody is saying you cannot live in a choice building or an architectural derring-do, but you must be ready to pay the tax due for such a property. You can choose to build an archipelago and live to your comfort, but something has to go into government’s coffer who is the provider of the basic amenities, so that those amenities could remain running for the good of all”.

    Explaining why the law has to take effect immediately, Prince Afegbua stated that given the fact that revenue accruable to the state is on the decline, the governor had to look inwards to see how to generate legitimate revenue using appropriate legislation to do so.

    He added that it is such measures that have helped the state to attain its height. “You see, the government is not a popularity contest. It is a platform where the collective aspirations of the people are aggregated in a manner that the government sets its priority right to cater for a greater number against a privileged few,” Afegbua added.

  • SON to test imported electronic goods

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has gone tough on imported electronics into the country.

    Its Director-General, Mr Joseph Odumodu, said during a visit to Fouani Nigeria Limited in Lagos that his agency was ready to start the scientific validation and testing of imported electronic products.

    He expressed the displeasure of SON on the poor quality of some electronic products.

    He said the testing was to ensure that the products met minimum standards for safety and performance.

    Odumodu said there was the need to establish a stronger collabo-ration between SON and electronic manufacturers.

    “The ultimate goal is to ensure consumers’ safety and value for money.

    “Today, I have learnt that every LG television set and some of the refrigerators and air conditioners are assembled here in Apapa, Lagos.

    “This also helps us in achieving our objectives because we know the kind of questions and features to look out for in these products.

    “I have seen your assembly plants and I am also looking forward, in the next two years, to see Nigeria manufacturing compressors, condensers and others components because this is the real manufacturing that we need”, he said.

    Earlier, Managing Director of the company, Mr Mohammed Fouani, said the factory had equipped many Nigerians with technical skills.

    “Occasionally, engineers from China come and train our employees, who are mostly Nigerian. I think what is important here is how to make local components in Nigeria so that we can do everything from A to Z in this country. This is the only way the manufacturing sector can grow,” Fouani said.

    He advised the Federal Government to support the manufacturing sector, adding that the company would open a new factory, which would be the biggest in Africa in 2014.

  • Workers for training

    Professionals in the construction sector and other players in the industry will tomorrow hold a workshop for concrete workers in Lagos State.

    The Group under the aegis of Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) and the Lagos State ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and others in a parley said the idea is to bring a multi-disciplinary approach to the problems of building collapse.

    Chairman of the group, Mr Kunle Awobodu, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said: “Noting the crucial role of the concreting managers and artisans, such as the machine operators, the carriers, spreaders, vibrator operators, bricklayers, carpenters and iron benders, there is no better time than now to bring the artisans under one umbrella to educate and assist them in applying the knowledge.

    He said the discussions, which involve the various arm of government, would include training concrete workers on the standards stipulated for concrete mixing by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), safety especially in the handling of concrete materials, quality control and need for materials testing including the essence of water in concrete with batching by weight and volume.

    Awobodu said the training would also involve quality control tests, cube tests and curing test. This is in addition to what would be a major exhibition from the Lagos Materials testing Laboratory of various machines and equipment for production and testing of concrete.

  • More workers join Trustfund pension

    More workers join Trustfund pension

    Trustfund Pensions Plc has recorded about 25 per cent increase in enrollees, its Managing Director, Mrs Helen Da- Souza, has said.

    Addressing delegates at the Eighth National Labour Relations Summit and Fellowship Award at the Michael Imoudu National Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS) Ilorin, Kwara State, Mrs Da Souza, said Trustfund would soon make gains as it hopes to make its mark through a transfer window it would soon open.

    “We are looking at the transfer window which we will soon open, where we would make our mark. We would end up by the day to be the next gainer. The board is fully supporting the management to achieve our target,” she said.

    She said the investiture of Nigeria Social Insurance Trustfund (NSITF) Chairman Mrs Ngozi Olejeme as a Fellow of the institute was well deserved, adding that the Board Chairman was the brain behind the Employees Compensation Act (ECA) that the government has just enacted.

    “We cannot talk of Employee Compensation Act without mentioning Mrs Ngozi Olejeme, because she is truly the brain behind it.You see what she is doing in NSITF and Trustfund, where she is the Chairman, that after working, after all the contributions, customers will retire to a comfortable way of living,’’ she said.

    Mrs. Olejeme assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s social protection that would boost essential health care benefits, as well as reduce poverty and inequality in the country

    She said this is a foundation for sustainable and economic growth that has proved to be a powerful anti-crisis measure that protects and empowers people, and contributes to boosting economic demand and accelerating recovery.

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Vice-President, Comrade Isa Aremu, said: “She did very well to consummate what was close to almost a decade of struggle, to bring the ECA into being. When we have people like this in the position of public responsibility, it tells you that, regardless of political affiliation, if you want to work, you would work very well. And within a short time, that fund is already building up. Not only that, they have started giving compensation to some of the workers who have sustained injuries at work. It is really commendable.

    “ Trustfund is one of the leading PFAs in the country, with a better corporate governance. It has its challenges, but nonetheless, it has critical stakeholders- Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congree (TUC), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

    “That tells you that women are doing very well in the labour market, and they need to be encouraged in that respect,” he stated.

    President-General, Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, Peter Esele said as an investor in Trustfund, last year, he got 10 kobo per share, but this year, he received 15 kobo per share despite the worldwide economic depression. “That means the chairman has moved to a new level and I have also told her that this is what we expect for next year, as long as dividends are coming in, we know that the company is growing.”

  • 10 home truths

    10 home truths

    T HE year 2012 is racing inexorably towards its end. So, you have been in the employment market throughout the year or even before, you will probably be concerned by now by your situation.You are probably strategising about next year. The starting point is why are you still unemployed? I don’t know.

    Sure, you are the one to find the answers, mine is to ask questions, assist and encourage you. In this article some subsequent ones, I will try and help you to a new and profitable start in 2013. That was the promise I made earlier.

    Our employment status is crucial and important to our lives. Why? Most of us start work in early 30’s and retirement often occurs in the mid–60’s. This implies that we spend 80 per cent of our adult life at work.

    It will then be obvious that we need to get not just a job, but also a job of our choice. We need a job that will give us the greatest quality of work life, one that gives us the fullest opportunity for maximum expression of our needs, interest and values.

    The unemployed is poor, feels loss of control over his/her life and faces social pressure (some unintended). He also feels frustrated, angry and has low esteem. in the same vein, sudden loss of job disrupts family and social life, leads to loss of income and identity.

    The resultant change results in emotional turmoil, given the magnitude, speed and scope of change. At another level, many are not happy with their jobs-and are passively or actively looking for opportunity for job/career change.

    They all are really in the job market. The frank unemployment statistics (or better still, estimates) are not cheering: 16 millions Nigerians are unemployed – 25 per cent or four million are University/Polytechnics graduates.

    About 220,000 are produced from such higher institutions, and only 10 per cent obtain employment within one year post-NYSC. These were estimates made two years ago. I don’t think things are better now. In all, it may well be true that over 25 millions Nigerians in the job market-looking for job, a better job or a new career.

    From the foregoing, it is obvious that the Nigeria Job market is tough. The hard reality is that it requires more than extensive cognate experience and academic excellence to obtain a good job in the Nigeria’s job market.

    Question then is, at the personal level, is there anything you can do to get and stay ahead. Yes, you need to acquire job search skills. It is that simple. Buying an exquisite car will not give you the pleasure and pride of driving it, except you know how to drive.

    In the same way, the vast majority of us will only enjoy the fruit of our formal education and training only through paid employment. It is therefore the ironic that few possess the requisite skills for effective job search. That is home truth no1: few of us possess job search skills

    Let’s look at the hiring process, from the point of view of the employer. It is a good strategy of war to have good understanding of the ways of your enemy. The hiring process consists of essentially 3 stages Recruitment, Selection and Placement.

    Recruitment is the set of activities a firm uses to attract job candidates who have the abilities, knowledge and skills required for occupiers of the job position to help the firm achieve its objectives.

    Home truth No 2: Most candidates failed even before the start- they do not get to know about job openings. They are not looking the right places or they are looking in wrong places.

    Selection is the process of choosing the specific candidates for the job. It entails gathering sufficient information about the potential candidates for the purpose of evaluation.

     

    The sequence may be as follows

    • Preliminary screening (basal evaluation of candidates’ application and Resume/CV. A candidate may be considered absolutely unsuitable for academic, vocational, vocational, experience etc reason)

    • Completion of Application Blank (candidates may be required to fill standardised application blanks which are required for information usually already available on the Resume/CV)

    • Selection Test- (usually pencil and eraser, designed to predict candidates performance on the job, intellectual ability, numerate/verbal aptitudes etc.)

    • Interview (interaction and exchange of information between the employer and job seeker)

    • Decision to Hire (Making up the mind of the employer as regards that most suitable candidate)

    • Job offer (contacting and informing successful candidate about the decision of the employer to hire him and the terms of such employment).

    Are you positioned to cross these hurdles?

    Permit me to ask this obvious question again: Do you want a job? Or, a better job? Do you know how to? From deciding what you want, to crafting a winning resume through job interview to negotiating your employment conditions reqires know-how. JobSearchguru’s JOB-HUNTING MANUAL, is now published and available in the market. You can visit our website for further details. It is your complete job search tool-kit.

     

    See you next Monday.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Microsoft lifts SMEs in Africa

    Microsoft lifts SMEs in Africa

    UNITED States technology giants, Microsoft, is launching a new programme focused on providing support, benefits and tools for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment in the Middle East and Africa region.

    The online programme, entitled: ‘Keep your business moving’, is designed to assist the region’s budding entrepreneurs and provide advice to SMEs owners already in operation.Theprogramme’s website will provide information in English, French, Arabic and Turkish.

    According to a statement, the programme will not only help entrepreneurs start a business, support them to take actions to grow their business, increase their profitability, it will also assist them to expand their reach into new markets.Through this initiative, Microsoft will help businesses by providing an online hub for business advice, and up-to-date information on products and solutions specifically available for SMEs.

    General Manager, West, East, Central Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, Hennie Loubser, said: “Studies indicate that SMEs in the Middle East and Africa are boosting regional GDP – in sub-Saharan Africa. They contribute to over 50 per cent of employment and add 20 per cent to the continent’s gross domestic product.

    With industry experts also forecasting rapid growth in IT spending in MEA in the next few years, we want to provide this innovative community with the tools and support they need to grow.

     

     

    There’s no doubt that SMBs are increasingly competing in a global market, but they also come from diverse geographies and have very different needs, resources and goals. Cloud computing, mobility, big data and social technologies are key growth drivers in MEA, and Microsoft’s advice and solutions will help SMBs take advantage of these trends and become the industry leaders in their region.”

    According to Loubser, the regional SMB segment has always been a key focus area for Microsoft. “With this exclusive program, we reinforce our commitment to equip small and medium businesses with the best of intellectual capital, ICT solutions, tools, resources and best practices to maximise their return on ICT investments,” he adds. “We’ll use the program to share white papers, case studies, free tools and products, stay in touch with the SMB community and guide them to keep their business moving.”

    Ken Spann, former Microsoft Development Platform Evangelist for Nigeria and West Africa and now the MD/CEO of WaveTek Nigeria Ltd. says: “The SMB segment is better positioned to take advantage of technology normally thought to be affordable for larger organizations. The arrival of Microsoft Office 365 gives the SMB segment Enterprise Level IT Solutions without the need for an IT Department.” HE goes on to say “WaveTek is providing free Pilots for Office 365 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. WaveTek provides low priced, real-time business solutions in addition to high speed connectivity so that business owners have the IT Tools regardless of where they travel or type of device they are using. WaveTek is committed to its motto of “Technology Solutions beyond Space and Time” and makes it easy for customers to take advantage of the many Microsoft solutions that can help manage and grow their business”