You don’t have to like the idea of making new year resolutions to know that the beginning of a new year is a good time to review whatever you do and set new goals aimed at getting better at it.

The end of one year and the beginning of another is a significant timeline to evaluate the success or otherwise of any endeavour and decide the necessary steps to take for the new year to be an improvement on the past ones.

Even if you don’t announce to anyone whatever you have resolved to achieve in a new year, being intentional about making necessary progress in whatever you are known for is the only guarantee to make every year count for you positively.

This was what informed the topic I spoke on at a Masterclass training for staff of Marketing Edge last Wednesday in Lagos which was In Pursuit of Excellence in Media Practice.

Even if you are doing fairly well in your work or business, you must keep on aiming to be the best among your peers or competitors. You must not be complacent and must be ready to raise the standards far beyond where others can catch up with you.

In my presentation at the training, I noted among others, the following reasons why pursuing excellence is necessary:

*The new year offers an opportunity to review past performances and set new goals.

* Standards don’t remain static. What was good last year may not be in the new year. Customers may have more options and would prefer the best irrespective of the past reputation of a popular brand.

* Good is not the best. It’s supposed to be Good, better, best. Only the best at every point in time will be good enough for the customers.

* You don’t have a monopoly on ideas and markets. Competitors are working hard to displace you from being No 1 and unless you have what it takes to show you are truly the leader in your field of endeavours, customers would move on  to those who have displaced you

* Innovation is key to remaining at the top. You have to keep improving on what you are offering and be proactive about how to serve your customers better even if they are not asking for it.

* To earn maximum revenue you must explore every possible option and not be satisfied with just the income you are making, but be able to make maximum income and benefits.

 To pursue and achieve excellence the following are my recommendations for the new year for every individual and organization.

Determination is key and it’s a choice that must be made. You must have a strong desire to want to be excellent no matter the limitations you may have to contend with. Where there is a will according to the popular saying, there will be a way. You may never know what you are able to accomplish until you make an attempt to. Your hunger for excellence must be such that you will not be easily satisfied with average performance.

 Part of being determined is to set excellent targets that may appear hard to accomplish, but are doable when you give it your best shot based on adopting necessary strategies and realistic timelines. As Norman Vincent Peale puts it, shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you will land among the stars.

Setting excellent targets will make it possible to create new records or standards which others will be struggling to meet up with you.

 If you are not the leader in your field, benchmark against the best and stop comparing yourself with those you are better than. Learn from what those who are ahead of you are doing and work really hard to be reckoned with.

Success is about how long you have been doing anything, it’s how well you do it.

Today, I have four Passports filled with Visas and already have an all-expenses paid one-week media training invitation in the United States next June.

Notwithstanding the challenges I have had as a journalist like other colleagues, I’m grateful for the many blessings God has given me.

I was recently reminded of one of the numerous blessings I should be grateful to God for as a journalist when I saw my first International Passport issued in 1997 with my first Visa to travel out of the country.

“GRATIS”, meaning FREE, written on the Visa to the United Kingdom to attend the Advance Journalism Course at Thomson Foundation, Cardiff, brought back the memory of the culmination of events when God proved to me that He is able to do exceeding and abundantly, beyond what we can think or imagine.

The first ‘miracle’ was that I applied for the three-month course in Cardiff not really sure I will be selected and to my surprise my application was successful.

Unfortunately, there was no scholarship for me to attend the programme and I  needed to source one myself or pay about €3,500 tuition apart from the cost of the return flight which was about N150,000 then.

The Thomson Foundation advised me to reach out to the British Council in Nigeria for a scholarship and I did with a recommendation from the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda, Mr Edetaen Ojo

With the commencement date for the training drawing close and no other source of raising the tuition and flight fare, I was already losing hope about making the trip when the British Council graciously offered to pay my tuition and asked that The Punch where I was the Group News Editor before being redeployed as City Editor, pay for the flight.

Despite my redeployment which could have been a good reason for declining to pay for my flight, the former Managing Director, Mr Ademola Osinubi told me to go ahead with processing my Visa.

Based on the advice of those who were used to how difficult it is to obtain a Visa in the Lagos embassy office due to the large crowd of applicants and the short time I had to apply, I opted to try my luck in the Abuja office.

Due to the limited funds I had, I travelled by night bus for the early morning appointment and asked the Abuja Bureau Chief of The Punch, Yinka Oluwole to give me a loan to pay for the Visa.

After confidently telling the Visa officer I was going for the course to among others reasons, acquire computer and Internet skills, she asked me a question that left me offering an incoherent answer.

“If you learn more about the use of the computer during your course, do you have a personal computer to use in your office?”, she asked. Of course, I had none. I applied for the course through the Secretary of the MD who was the only one that had an Internet-enabled computer in The Punch then.

When the Visa officer waved me to the next line of applicants, I thought she wanted me to step aside and collect my Passport with Denied boldly stamped on it.

I was however told the next line was for those whose Visas were approved to pay the Visa fee. When it was my turn, I gave the amount required to the lady at the counter and she shocked me with the statement she made.

“You don’t have to pay for the Visa. Your Visa is gratis since the British Council is sponsoring you.”

The Punch paid for my flight as promised with an extra amount. I spent three unforgettable Career and life-changing months in Cardiff that opened more doors for international training and travel worldwide.

Today, I have four Passports filled with Visas and already have an all-expenses paid one-week media training invitation in the United States next June.

Notwithstanding the challenges I have had as a journalist like other colleagues, I’m grateful for the many blessings God has given me.

In the season of political campaigns, many people want to reach the candidates or those very close to them for various reasons.

Some claim they have suggestions that can enhance their campaigns and guarantee their victory like a sure banker in Bet Naija.

Some want to be part of the campaign in any way possible because of their acclaimed political followership in their communities.

No one admits he or she wants to get his or her own share of the campaign funds from especially the ‘deep pocket’ candidates.

Having worked in The Nation Newspaper, supposedly owned by you know who as a top editor for about 14 years, some rightly think I should be somehow close to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu or some of his top aides and strategists.

What should have reinforced their expectations from me and not believe my not to have the kind of contacts they need is that my knowing Tinubu dates back to the 90’s.

Interestingly, I knew him before he became a Senator. Guess who introduced him to a group of Political Editors, the Turaki Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar somewhere in Lagos.

I still remember the exact words of the former Vice President while introducing Tinubu, Iyorchia Ayu and one other candidate I can’t recall his name now.

“Gentlemen, I want you to help these my friends, they are contesting for the Senate.”

Atiku was that kind of person who was interested in the success of others and went out of his way to seek support.

I remember one aide of Chief Dapo Sarumi, the Chief Primose, trying to schedule interviews for Tinubu with The Punch where I was the Group Political Editor, but only managed to have one during a ride across the city. There was also a limit to how much focus you can have on one candidate.

After he became a Senator, I didn’t have any contact with him for years because I had left The Punch and was not involved in reporting Politics.

Yes, I worked in The Nation for 14 years and only met him once by chance. I was in a group of editors from various media houses he addressed mainly on the justifications for backing former Governor Raji Fashola.

“Every indication shows he is the right man for the job, trust me,” he told the editors most of whom did not really know Fashola well or those who think he doesn’t have the clout for the position.

My employment had nothing to do with my past encounter with Tinubu. I applied for the vacant position and the management found me suitable.

I know the MD and some select top management staff meet with Tinubu once in a while and they tell us a few things and as senior experienced editors we know the right thing to do.

Once in a while when we are not careful enough and we allow somethings to get into print, the MD will just tell you, “you are on your own, decide what you want to publish.”

There are times when we get feedback that some staff are over promoting some APC governors because what’s happening in their state does not match what we are reporting or their claims.

When some top APC members complain about one particular columnist accusing him of criticising them, Oga’s response is “Efi sile. Gbogbo wa o le sun ka Kori si Ibikan na (We cannot all be thinking same way”.

Sorry for my long digression, but it’s necessary to justify while I have not been too helpful to those who think I should know the inner workings of the political team of the Lion of Bourdilon.

Unfortunately but as I prefer it, I am to a large extent apolitical. I just want to do my job and move on as a journalist should because I know enough how politicians operate.

Maybe if I have exploited my past relationships with politicians, maybe if I had even accepted political positions which I was once offered, maybe.

But that’s too late now. I just want to do my media career work in peace, I don’t want any BATIST, ATIKULATED or OBIDIENT supporter to see me as an enemy based on the acrimonious exchanges I am seeing online.

I have not had any contact with the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, but I have no doubt that he is also a good candidate like Tinubu and Atiku. It’s up to the voters to decide who to vote for.

Journalists quarrelling over politicians should realize that they have their career to face when all these campaigns are over.

When the elections are won and lost, politicians will put it behind them and move on. Some will even join the winning side.

When the final result is announced, some of them will do the Jonathan style. They will call winner. God bless Goodluck Jonathan.

Let’s be moderate in how we stake our professional career in supporting politicians.

If you are interested in working for any candidate get in and declare your stand.

For those who still need Tinubu’s contacts, sorry I can’t help much.

Maybe if you join the party at the local level like Doyin Okupe did when he wanted to be involved in politics long ago, and make valid contributions, somehow you may be noticed and your contributions will be passed on to the top.

If you also write on platforms where you can be read or get interviewed on broadcast stations, someone at the political control room may get across to you.

I wish to congratulate the CEO/Editor-In-Chief of Diamond Publications and Trustee of the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) Mr Lanre Idowu on the successful hosting of the recent 31st edition of the award ceremony.

It is commendable that Mr Idowu, an accomplished journalist and his team initiated the award in 1991 and have sustained the prestigious initiative that has enhanced excellence in media practice in the country. Many winners of DAME have attested to the positive impact of the award on their careers.

I join in asking for continued support for DAME by all who should, to ensure that outstanding journalists are honoured and adequately rewarded.

In his welcome address at the recent award, Mr Idowu made some timely pleas which I think journalists need to pay attention to because as he rightly noted “it is only a healthy media that can birth a healthy country.”

More than ever before, the media has to live up to expectations and be guided by the ethics of the profession to be regarded as the impartial fourth estate of the realm. We cannot afford to be Lapdog when were supposed to be the Watchdog of the society by not effectively holding those in government and other positions of leadership accountable to the people.

Journalists are supposed to be dispassionate in reporting the build-up to the General elections next year and should not do anything that will make our audience doubt their neutrality as Mr Idowu noted.

The situation where some journalists declare their support for some candidates or where some media houses and their staff engage in acts that can make the public doubt their neutrality is not good enough.

If journalists demand accountability and transparency from government officials and politicians, they should also be willing to subject themselves and practice to a high level of probity that can make them trustworthy.

Journalists should admit when they are wrong in accordance with the various guidelines of their profession and not carry on as if their actions cannot be questioned.

Excerpts from Mr Idowu’s welcome address which I fully agree with are reproduced below:

” It is because of the desire for a healthy country that we urge our colleagues to take a more balanced view of the tremendous opportunity offered the country in the coming elections. A lot is at stake, but, sadly, the required leadership and direction that the media should offer is grossly missing.

“Many of us are still engrossed in emotive reactions to situations. Many are ensconced in ethnic cocoons and lack the ability to tower beyond ethnic prejudices. Many have neglected the professional responsibility to set the agenda in a proactive manner; instead, they seem to relish the pathetic situation of merely reacting to situations, regurgitating unproven allegations, and generating heat instead of light.

“The media must moderate the process by defining the issues, and getting the candidates to respond to them. Why is it so difficult to moderate media debates or interviews if we approach the task with the detachment necessary for a professional job?

“I recall that in the past, the NPO, comprising the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, the Guild of Editors and the NUJ had shown direction in this area. I know that a few attempts have been made by the Guild but a more integrated or collaborative effort may be more rewarding.

“It is not in the interest of the democratic process if the media cannot be trusted to assess the preparedness of candidates for political office. Nor is it in the interest of candidates if they are perceived to be avoiding media scrutiny.

“Trusting that there is sufficient time for our media to make necessary amends before the elections, let us turn to the commendable strides that have taken place in our industry.”

After weeks of not writing this column, I’m glad to be alive and back to resume sharing my opinion with readers on issues of general interest. What happened to me? Long story, but the short version is that I was ill and my health degenerated to the extent that I had to be hospitalized and undergo some other medical attention.

The good news is that I’m alive and well and able to do one of the things I like most which is writing which I have done for decades. I’m grateful to God for sparing my life and to everyone, especially my family members and friends who stood by me in those moments when all hope seemed lost.

Being healthy is something everyone should be grateful for.  Until we break down and unable to do those things we do normally without much effort, we never appreciate what it means to be healthy.

In those moments I couldn’t even walk and had to be carried from my bedroom to the toilet, I remembered the importance of the Morning Prayer we used to pray in the Anglican Church.

“Father I thank you for waking me up. Thank you that I raised my hand and I can. Thank you I moved my legs and I can”

Being able to move our hands and legs is a big deal which we take for granted. Still, when our health fails, we realise that it has taken the grace of God to be able to do so and many other things which many with one health condition or the other are hoping to regain the ability to do.

Unless for circumstances beyond one’s control, my advice is that people should do everything not to get ill as the experience can be traumatic considering the poor state of our health facilities and personnel.

Imagine getting to the emergency section of one of the best government hospitals under excruciating conditions and being told there is no bed to admit you. The medical staff wished they could help but there is not much they could do as some of those who arrived earlier had not been attended to.

The available facilities are obviously overstretched and the personnel overworked. There are not enough doctors to attend to patients as some have reportedly resigned and joined the exodus abroad for better pay and conditions of service.

While some patients and I can afford to pay for the treatment that is available, many others can’t. The cost of tests and drugs can sometimes be too exorbitant for some patients and their families and relatives have to start calling others to raise the money needed. There are cases of those who have been discharged but can’t leave because they have not paid their accumulated bills while on admission.

Even when doctors are able to do their best to care and attend to you, you need to trust God for perfect healing. The best thing like I advised earlier is to stay healthy which sometimes is as simple as knowing the right thing to eat and what not to and taking the necessary medications.

Indeed health is wealth. When you are ill, many things get disrupted including your source of living and ability to meet many other obligations. Things you used to think were very important are no longer your priority and all you want is to survive what you are going through.

Again, I am grateful that I’m alive and wish many others still ill a speedy recovery.

Before I took ill, I had decided to name my daughter’s expected baby Opemipo (My thanks are many) for reasons I can’t explain. Now I know why. I really have many reasons to thank God for surviving an illness that many others have died of and I’m now a grandfather.

The proposed bill before the House of Representatives, seeking to prohibit late payment of wages and salaries as well as underpayment by employers in the country sponsored by the Speaker, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, is very commendable and long overdue.

The bill which has been passed for the second reading is proposing fines and punishment for delays in payment of salaries or breaches of contracts by employers, including one-month imprisonment for any employer who owes salaries for more than 60 days.

Among various sections, the bill in Section 2 provides that “Every employer of labour in Nigeria, whether private or public, and whether it is employing any worker on permanent or contract basis must ensure that all payment of wages, salaries, pension and all benefits to workers are paid promptly without delay weekly, fortnightly monthly, quarterly or yearly as may be agreed by parties in the contract of employment of the additional individuals”.

Section 3 (1a,b,c) also prohibits employers from making arbitrary deductions from the wages or pension of workers unless expressly provided in the contract of engagement.

Considering the prevalent practice in the country where employers, including the government at various levels, default in payment of their staff among other infractions of the labour laws, the proposed bill should be given urgent consideration and passed into law.

There are many private companies, organizations and agencies of government where staff are owed for months and are still expected to perform their duties. Owing salaries is gradually becoming the norm and no longer an exemption. It’s bad enough that many employers are not paying commensurate salaries for the input of their staff and it’s even unfortunate that they make it seem that they are doing their staff a favour by paying them when they choose to.

Arbitrary deductions contrary to the agreed conditions of service are now the order of the day in many organisations with workers at the mercy of employers taking advantage of the dire economic situation in the country to exploit them. To further underpay their staff, security companies for example impose all kinds of fines for alleged offences and deduct them from their meagre salaries.

Even for official deductions like pensions and tax, many employers don’t pay the relevant authorities. The implication for the workers is that they are unable to benefit from such deductions after retiring or leaving their employer for whatever reason.

Because of the lack of legislation like the proposed bill, employers don’t feel an obligation to pay their staff as regularly as they should and are not afraid of being penalized.

A Nigerian newspaper publisher notorious for owning staff salaries and other entitlements once launched his publication in South Africa. The publication ceased publication after a few months when he could not pay monthly salaries in accordance with the laws of the country. The same publisher like many other media owners are owning their staff for months in the country while they are hypocritically reporting violations of the rights of workers in other sectors.

While some employers may be unable to pay salaries promptly due to low patronage or not making enough revenue as they used to, some are simply living large at the expense of their staff.

Hopefully, as soon as the proposed bill is passed, proper enforcement of the provisions will ensure that workers are paid as at when due. Workers deserved their wages as at when due and should not be unjustly denied as is the case presently in many sectors.

It’s really sad that many people work for years and they have nothing to show for it because their welfare is not prioritised by their employers who use and dump them without the necessary law to protect their interests.

Well done to the Speaker for initiating the bill. We need  more bills like this that shows that the law makers understand what the ordinary Nigerian is going through and what should be done to protect their rights and priviledges.