The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Benefits

  • Retired policeman petitions govt over non-payment of benefits

    Retired policeman petitions govt over non-payment of benefits

    A retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Richard Ogundare, has petitioned the Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Mike Okiro, over non-payment of his retirement benefits 10 years after serving the Nigeria Police Force for 35 years.

    Ogundare, who served between 1969 and 1979 in the Nigerian Army before he was seconded to the Nigeria Police, is also aggrieved because the PSC refused to merge his number of service years.

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar was copied in the petition written and signed by his lawyers, Kehinde Hassan Bamibola& Co.

    According to the petition, Ogundare has not received his retirement benefits since he retired in 2004.

    The petition stated: “We have the authority, instruction and consent of our client to call your attention to the inhuman treatment he has been receiving from your commission after he has duly served his fatherland, Nigeria meritoriously formerly as a military personnel from 1969 before he got seconded/enlisted to the Nigeria Police Force in 1979.

    “Our client informed us with documentary evidences that, he applied to merge his service years sometimes in 2002 and that the application was not recommended. He would have served for 35 as at December 1, 2004, if the merging application had been granted.

    “However, he served the Nigeria Police meritoriously till April 2007 before he was retired from the service. It is so painful and we consider it an act unleashing unmerited hardship on our client, that ever since his retirement, he has not received his retirement benefits. He has been suffering and languishing in abject poverty as a result of non-payment of his retirement benefits.”

    The petition further read that a letter from PSC dated July, 2006 put Ogundare’s retirement date at April 24, 2004 while another letter dated May 3, 2007 with the heading “Retirement Benefits” put the effective date of his retirement at April 24, 2006 with factual affirmation that he was not indebted to the Federal Government.

    “Going by the letter from PSC, he actually applied for merging of his service years comprising the service years with the Nigerian Army from 1969 to the period he joined the Nigeria Police 1979, but the application was turned down. He was made to serve beyond December 2004 till April 2007. Assuming the merging application was granted, he would have clocked 35 years at the service by December, 2004.

    “He actually served the Nigerian Police Force for 28 years from 1979 to 2007. That, the period between December 2004 and April 2007 should be reasonably computed into his service years for the treatment, calculation and payment of his retirement benefits.

    “We hereby appeal to your good office to pay our client all his retirement benefits as he is in great need of finances for his health and other necessities. The ‘dead does not spend money’ and so he should enjoy what he has laboured for while he is still on earth now. We are looking forward to hearing from you that his Retirement Benefits have been paid fully” it read.

    Efforts to get the PSC’s reaction proved abortive as at press time.

  • Meristem highlights benefits of Meritrade online portal

    Meristem Securities Limited, a dealing member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), at the weekend highlighted the benefits of its newly introduced online trading portal-Meritrade, stressing that the portal will bring the stock market closer to local and international investors to maximize their opportunities.

    Meritrade is an online stock broking platform which allows users buy and sell stocks online through the NSE from the comfort of their homes, offices, cars and mobile devices. The platform defines stock broking in entirely different language and creates a world class experience, bringing the broker to the comfort of investors’ homes and offices.

    Head, stockbroking, Meristem Securities, Mrs. Gbadunola Sokunbi said Meritrade comes with ease and is for the benefit of the retail segment of the Nigerian capital market; thus, making Meristem contribute to the positioning of the NSE to champion the acceleration of Africa’s economic development while creating durable wealth.

    According to her, the Meritrade platform will guarantee investors’ convenience as it will enable retail investors to open stockbroking account without having to walk into a stockbroking house from wherever, whenever and even on the go.

    She outlined that the new portal will allow investors to fund their accounts by making deposits without necessarily walking into a banking hall, place orders for prompt execution and receive contract note instantly.

    “Other benefits of the platform are real-time notification on trade execution, trade the way an investor wants, manage and take full control of investors’ investments at all times as well as explore market data and quality research reports. The development of the new trading platform has become imperative with the NSE’s recent launch of its new trading engine, the X-Gen platform, which enables completion of trading transactions without human intervention,” Sokunbi said.

    She enjoined investors to enjoy the fairly extensive walk-through system and its mobile apps noting that the mobile stock trading experience is second to none in Nigeria.

     

     

     

    The head of stockbroking encouraged investors with smart phones and other devices to take a ride into the world of endless possibilities at www.meritrade.com.

    She added that the Meritrade platform also provides users with market data and information on all quoted companies, spiced with quality research reports that will guide their safe investment decisions.

     

     

     

  • 15 Benefits of Coconut Milk

    15 Benefits of Coconut Milk

    Coconut milk is a crucial part of a plant-based diet because it is a vegan replacement for milk that doesn’t require much compromise — it boasts a creamy consistency and a delicious taste.

    1. Substitute for Coffee Cream

    Use coconut milk to replace the cream you pour into your morning cup of joe, and you’ll get a boost of energy not just from the caffeine but also from the electrolytes provided by the coconut milk itself. Coconut contains potassium, sodium, magnesium and chloride, all of which help to keep the body hydrated and properly functioning.

    2. Braise Meat

    Coconut milk may not be the first ingredient you associate with chicken and meat, but it actually adds a sweet, delicious touch to the meal.

    3. Be calm and drink coconut milk

    Coconut milk contains 89 milligrams of magnesium per cup, which makes it a rich source of a mineral that helps to calm the nerves and maintain normal blood pressure. Magnesium blocks nerve cells from becoming overactive by virtue of becoming stimulated by calcium. Calm nerve cells reduce contraction of muscles and make you feel more relaxed.

    Moisturize Skin

    Whether ingested or applied directly to the skin, coconut milk is helpful in hydrating the skin and keeping it soft and smooth. Its fat content locks in moisture. Simply apply a thin layer of coconut milk to a cleansed face, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then rinse clean. Fight Infection

    Coconut milk contains a fatty acid called lauric acid, which is quite valuable to the human body. When it enters the body, lauric acid is converted to monolaurin, which is a compound that has antiviral and antibacterial properties. For this reason, coconut milk consumption could fight infections and viruses.

    7. Control Weight

    Because coconut milk contains saturated fats, it is often shunned by dieters as a fattening agent. However, because of its fiber content, coconut milk makes you feel fuller longer and, in moderation, can help to control weight.

    •Maintain Blood Sugar Levels

    Coconut water is a source of manganese, which is vital for regulating blood sugar levels. One of manganese’s most important functions is to help metabolize glucose in the human body. Manganese is also essential for metabolism function, treating inflammation, preventing osteoporosis, alleviating PMS in women, aiding vitamin absorption and maintaining the health of the digestive track.

    •Remove makeup

    There is no need for harsh, alcohol-ridden chemicals to get rid of makeup around the most sensitive area of your face. Coconut milk does the trick just right!

    •Lower Cholesterol

    While the better option may be to reach for an unsaturated fat, if choosing among saturated fats, coconut milk is the best of the bunch. The fats in coconut milk are also easier for the body to break down and metabolize and contain healthy fats including omega 6 essential fatty acids.

    •Prevent Wrinkles

    Improve skin elasticity with the consumption or application of coconut milk due to its copper and vitamin C content. Copper and vitamin C maintain flexibility and elasticity of the skin and blood vessels, slowing the aging process of your skin and body.

    •Treat Sunburns

    After a long day in the sun, it’s never a bad idea to continue the tropical theme, even in the form of a remedy. Apply a thin layer of cool coconut milk to the sunburned area and the coconut milk with soothe and moisturize the skin.

    •Get Baking

    For those who have lactose intolerance or are opting for a more animal-friendly diet, try using coconut milk in place of milk in baked dessert recipes. While other nut milks on the market do a good job of replacing dairy milk, sometimes they have a watery consistency that does not to the dessert much justice.

    •Treat Arthritis

    Coconut milk contains selenium, which is an antioxidant that relieves arthritis symptoms. Selenium controls free radicals and decreases the risk of joint inflammation.

    •Condition Hair

    Benefit from the nutrients and fats in coconut milk with a hair treatment. Massage coconut milk into your scalp and use your fingers to brush the milk through hair strands. Once covering your hair and scalp, wrap your hair in a towel and let the coconut milk sit for an hour or two. The longer it sits, the more deeply the moisturizing and strengthening effects of coconut milk will penetrate. You could also warm the milk up prior to application to jump start the assimilation of nutrients.

     

  • Kaduna Textile workers to Northern governors: Pay us our benefits

    Workers in the textile industry have called on the 19 governors of the Northern states, owners of Kaduna Textiles Limited and Nortex/Finetex Limited, already shut, to pay workers their N1.6billion entitlements.

    Speaking under the umbrella of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), the General Secretary of the group Issa Aremu lamented that the affected workers have been suffering since the companies were closed 10 years ago.

    He noted that both Kaduna Textiles and Nortex/Finetex owe the workers N687 million and N380 million.

    He said labour has obtained court judgments compelling the owners to pay their members but decried the refusal by management of the affected companies to obey the court rulings.

    Aremu said: “Both Nortex and Finetex closed in September 2003 without settlement of workers’ gratuities amounting to N305,653,887, outstanding salaries before the unilateral closure amounting to N63,434,190 as well as outstanding union dues amounting to N7.6 million.

    “When all efforts by the union to bring the management to a round table discussion failed, the union resorted to legal action, a stiff measure to safeguard our members’ interests to get justice and secure the payment of their terminal benefits.”

    He said in reaction to the union’s petition, the management filed a counter petition about nine years ago through their defence counsel contesting the legality of the union to wind-up the company under Receivership.

    On Monday, February 28, 2005, the Judge of the Federal High Court ruled in favour of the union, that the union has a right to sue. The case was then adjourned to March 3, 2005, Aremu said.

    “At the hearing on December 8, 2005, the Presiding Judge advised that to avoid long arguments on the matter, parties should go for out-of-court settlement, which the lawyers consented to. The matter was adjourned to February 7, 2006 for parties to report back terms of settlement,” he said.

     

     

     

     

  • Protesting NIPOST ex-workers paralyse activities over unpaid benefits

    Protesting NIPOST ex-workers paralyse activities over unpaid benefits

    •Govt processing N1.7b entitlements, says NIPOST

     

    Retired workers of the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) yesterday disrupted activities at the headquarters of the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), Area 11, Abuja.

    The ex-workers were protesting the non-payment of their entitlements.

    The protesters, who came with foods, bags of pure (sachet) water as well as personal effects, blocked the main entrance of NIPOST headquarters, carrying placards with various inscriptions.

    They vowed not leave until their benefits were paid.

    They accused the management of NIPOST of neglecting them after they had earlier tabled their demands before the Postmaster General of the Federation, Malam Ibrahim Mori Baba.

    Aminu Adamu, leader of the protesters, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the National Union of Pensioners, NIPOST chapter, quoted the Postmaster General of the Federation as saying that the benefits would be paid when the budget is passed, noting that nothing has been done since February when they (pensioners) held a meeting with him.

    He said they would not leave the NIPOST headquarters until their demands are met, adding that the protest is a warning as other branches of the union will join nationwide.

    Said he: “NIPOST management has refused to pay us our benefits: arrears, pension, severance salary, harmonisation and others since 2011.

    “The 2011 salary has not been paid to us as I’m talking to you. We are all retired workers; those who retired in 1997, 2004, 2005 and 2007 are all here.”

    Addressing reporters on the demands of the protesters, the Postmaster General said actions are being taken by the NIPOST management to ensure that the pensioners’ entitlements are paid.

    The Assistant Postmaster General, Territorial Operations, Yacim Bitiyong, said the NIPOST management expressed surprise at the protest, noting that his team held a meeting with the leadership of the National Union of Pensioners, NIPOST chapter, last week over the demands of the pensioners.

    He said a circular was issued at the end of the meeting. He expressed surprise about the protest, which according to him, ought not to have come up.

    The Postmaster General said NIPOST was aware of the contentious nature of pension in the country and lamented that the organisation incurred loss that ran into millions of naira when aggrieved pensioners shut down its offices nationwide.

    He, however, assured that the Federal Government would ensure that pension-related problems were solved.

    The Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Pension Administration, Habila Tanko, said the severance allowances of NIPOST, right-sized in 2006, have been paid, noting that those shortchanged in the payment exercise would be adequately paid.

    He said the N1.7billion budgeted for the payment of entitlements of the pensioners is with the Budget Office, adding that NIPOST has facilitated the processes that will lead to the payment.

  • Mutual Benefits wins award

    Mutual Benefits Assurance has won the most supportive insurance company to the transport sector award from the Lagos State Government.

    A former Commissioner for transportation, Lagos State, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, while presenting the award to the firm in Lagos, said the award was in recognition of Mutual Benefits’support and empowerment of transporters in the country.

    He encouraged the firm to continue the good works they have undertaken to empower the people outside their core business of insurance.

    The General Manager, Corporate Planning and Investment of Mutual Benefits, Bisi Olayiwola, who received the award on behalf of the company promised that it would continue to create value and empower people with diverse interest i n other sectors of the economy through investments, strategic alliances and partnerships.

    He said the firm started the Mutual Model Transport Limited (LAG Bus sub operations) in 2009 through the creation of Credit Bond Policy for Bank of Infrastructure that ensures that transporters have access to the Public Mass Transit Revolving Fund (PMTRF).

    Olayiwola said apart from the LAG Bus transportation scheme in Lagos, there are others in different parts of the country, including the Retan Bus scheme, Imo State Transport Scheme, Irewolede Scheme and transportation scheme for the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Kano, Jigawa and Taraba states as well as Airport Car Hirer’s Association of Nigeria nationwide Scheme, among others.

  • Tap into benefits of Moringa, govt told

    The Federal Government has been urged tap into the benefits of moringa – a cure-all plant known as ‘miracle tree’. It is known in the North as Zogale,the Yoruba call it Oruwo.

    According to the Vice President, Moringa Association of Nigeria (MAN), North Central, Dr Jacob Odiba, the plant, which is medicinal and rich in essential vitamins that the body needs, can help transform the economy by providing jobs for the people.

    He said the plant could also be used to purify water to make it safe.

    “The Federal Government’s only manufacturing plant for purification of water with moringa is at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State.

    It has been using the plant as a purifier with the support of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for water.

    The quality of water purified with moringa is better than that of alum,” he stated.

    Odiba said water is an essential part of life, which should be given attention, adding that it would do the country a lot of good if the Federal Government could invest in the plant to ensure the provision of clean water, among others.

    This, he said should be carried out in the states and local government areas the country.

    He said all parts of moringa such as trees, leaves and seeds are useful.

    Speaking further on the plant’s economic value, he said: “We had an international submit in Ilorin, Kwara State last year and people came from South African, Kenya and United States, among other to brainstorm on many benefits of the plant.

    “It has economic benefits because it can add to the country’s foreign exchange earnings and provide jobs for many people.

    Odiba said the plant has been laying fallow until a couple of years ago when its benefits came to light.

    “Moringa is one of the herbs we have in this country. It has been with us for over 500 years ago but little did we know of its importance. But today with research findings we discovered that Moringa is highly medicinal.”

    The plant, Odiba said can cure 300, diseases and ailments, adding that it also has nutritional values.

    He said moringa product ar good for the children and adults because they help to support the nutritional needs of people as it provides essential nutrients they need.

    “When you are living on Moringa you have every vitamin that you need in your system and that will keep you going without enough food. Its nutritional value is very high compared to any other plant across the world,” he added.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Benefits of papaya fruit and its usefulness

    Papaya fruit is a long oval-shaped fruit, similar to a pear, but the papaya fruit is larger than a pear. The fruit is orange, or yellow color, and even mix two colors (the color of ripe papaya).

    Papaya fruit have sweet taste and gentle. Inside the cavities of the fruit, black, round seeds encased in a substance such as gelatin. Papaya seeds are edible, although somewhat bitter. Fruit, as well as other parts of the papaya tree, contain papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins. This enzyme is especially concentrated in the fruit when raw. Papain is extracted to makes digestive enzyme supplements food, and also used as an ingredient in some chewing gum.

    Papaya is a rich source of antioxidant nutrients such as carotene, vitamin C and flavonoids vitamin B, folate and pantothenic acid, and minerals, potassium and magnesium, and fiber. In addition, papaya contains the digestive enzyme, papain, which is used like bromelain, a similar enzyme found in pineapple, to treat sports injuries, other causes of trauma, and allergies.

    Heart disease

    Nutrients in papaya helps prevent oxidation of cholesterol in your body. This is important because when cholesterol becomes oxidized to stick to your blood vessel wall, causing plaque that can cause heart attacks and strokes.

    Breast tightening

    Enzymes in papaya can help breast growth, so the more firm and supple. Papaya is also fortified with vitamin D hormone fasteners and female hormones that stimulate spending, and stimulate the ovaries release the female hormone. Mammary glands of these hormones will be smooth and shape of the ideal breast.

    Youth

    Levels of vitamin C in papaya is 48 times that of apples. Papaya is also active as a detox, so it can refresh the skin from within. Papaya is also a good melt the layers of skin and horns aging substances arising in the pores, making skin firmer and brighter.

    Supports your immune system

    Because papaya is rich in vitamins A and C, then from the papaya fruit is very good to eat to keep your immune system function properly.

    Slimming Body

    Papaya fruits arrange to have property of the body. Diligently eating papaya, can result in a doubling of enzyme in ripe papaya.

    Wholesomebabyfood.Us

  • Benefits of papaya fruit and its usefulness

    Benefits of papaya fruit and its usefulness

    Papaya fruit is a long oval-shaped fruit, similar to a pear, but the papaya fruit is larger than a pear. The fruit is orange, or yellow color, and even mix two colors (the color of ripe papaya).

    Papaya fruit have sweet taste and gentle. Inside the cavities of the fruit, black, round seeds encased in a substance such as gelatin. Papaya seeds are edible, although somewhat bitter. Fruit, as well as other parts of the papaya tree, contain papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins. This enzyme is especially concentrated in the fruit when raw. Papain is extracted to makes digestive enzyme supplements food, and also used as an ingredient in some chewing gum.

    Papaya is a rich source of antioxidant nutrients such as carotene, vitamin C and flavonoids vitamin B, folate and pantothenic acid, and minerals, potassium and magnesium, and fiber. In addition, papaya contains the digestive enzyme, papain, which is used like bromelain, a similar enzyme found in pineapple, to treat sports injuries, other causes of trauma, and allergies.

    Heart disease

    Nutrients in papaya helps prevent oxidation of cholesterol in your body. This is important because when cholesterol becomes oxidized to stick to your blood vessel wall, causing plaque that can cause heart attacks and strokes.

    Breast tightening

    Enzymes in papaya can help breast growth, so the more firm and supple. Papaya is also fortified with vitamin D hormone fasteners and female hormones that stimulate spending, and stimulate the ovaries release the female hormone. Mammary glands of these hormones will be smooth and shape of the ideal breast.

    Youth

    Levels of vitamin C in papaya is 48 times that of apples. Papaya is also active as a detox, so it can refresh the skin from within. Papaya is also a good melt the layers of skin and horns aging substances arising in the pores, making skin firmer and brighter.

    Supports your immune system

    Because papaya is rich in vitamins A and C, then from the papaya fruit is very good to eat to keep your immune system function properly.

    Slimming Body

    Papaya fruits arrange to have property of the body. Diligently eating papaya, can result in a doubling of enzyme in ripe papaya.

     

    Wholesomebabyfood.Us

  • Benefits of exercise

    Everyone likes a person who is bright, cheerful, helpful, energetic, in summary beautiful. Good health necessarily results in beauty of body, mind, and spirit, and of relationships. We all need to make effort if we want to become our best.

    We need healthy minds to solve problems, to be innovative, to make progress, and to be successful. Our bodies need to be functionally fit in order for us to work well, to deliver the best goods and services, and to profit from everything in life. Our spirits need to be fit to gain goods and overcome evils.

    Effort in one aspect: body, mind, or spirit, results directly or indirectly in good health in all aspects of our being and living, especially in relationships. Nobody is really ugly, bad, or useless. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We all need effort to be our functional best, to be fit to cope with the dynamics of living and even to thrive in life.For many of us, the physical effort we put into exercise is a stimulus of our innate capacities, a path to better life.

    Life can sometimes be strangling in the sense that we do not have a set aside or protected time for physical exercise. There are many ways we can grab brief and good exercises during the course of the day if we want to. When you need to take that file upstairs, climb the stairs with vigour and feel your heart beat faster and your breath panting by the time you reach the top. When you need to walk across to another building, try going at a pace that is quicker than your usual pace. These little bits of exercise can add up to significant fitness by the end of the day.You will take exercise seriously if you know what it does for you.

    You will lose excessive weight and look and feel your confident best. This does not mean you cannot be fat if you are genetically fat. A fat person can be good looking and healthy. You should know what is excess weight for you, what can precipitate heart or other health problems, and what you find embarrassing.

    You will work better when you are fit. If you find yourself procrastinating, lackadaisical, escaping tasks and challenges, lacking drive, opting out, unambitious, negative, un-achieving, you are at a low point and you need to stimulate your life. Use physical exercise to animate your body and when your heart, blood circulation, breathing functions, and body metabolism pick up, your mind too picks up and you may marvel at yourself, a new creation. Exercises that are good for stimulating ourselves are: walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, and using the skipping rope. Sports such as lawn or table tennis, football, golf, squash, and badminton help us to loosen our joints, strengthen our muscles, make us walk or run, and stimulate our senses, body functions, and metabolisms.

    These exercises stimulate the heart and drive blood throughout the body more effectively to deliver oxygen and nutrients and to remove waste products. These exercises burn calories and lower fats (triglycerides and cholesterol) that can be deposited inside blood vessels (arteries) to clog them and make them less functional. Though blood pressure may rise transiently during exercise, regular exercise lowers blood pressure in the long term because of a better working heart and healthier blood vessels.

    Because exercise makes our organs, muscles and joints strong and efficient and we are less easily fatigued at work. We are better able to face challenges and better fit to carry out exerting duties.

    Exercise alone cannot lead to better life. Other factors are important; for example, good nutrition. Whether rich or poor, we can always have some good nutrition. Rest and sleep are also important components of our efforts to reach better life. Sleep is important for the body and mind to recuperate and reinforce. Our social networks and relationships are also important for our sense of identity, our psychological well-being, and the all-important aspect of living: to love and be loved. Ofcourse, we do need to relate everything to our origin and end so we need to keep the spirit fit too. All these factors plus the effort we make to exercise are a recipe for good living.

     

    Your questions

    Some of you wanted to know how much a treadmill costs. Here is Lagos, I know there is a fitness shop at Ikeja Mall (Shoprite) but I have not been inside it and you may like to see if what they have is affordable for you. Good luck and keep fit.

    Dr. ’Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA. For any comments or questions on this column, please Email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 07028338910.