Tag: Business

  • Osinbajo to speak at OPTS’ business anniversary

    Osinbajo to speak at OPTS’ business anniversary

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will be the keynote speaker at the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) business event to mark its 55th anniversary.

    OPTS is the oldest and foremost sectorial group for operators in the upstream oil and gas industry, and an arm of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

    The event, which will hold on November 2, at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, will feature discussions that will help move the oil and gas industry forward.

    With the theme Nigeria, An Investor Friendly Destination,’ the event is to discuss strategies to attract investments in the upstream oil & gas industry as well as showcase the OPTS and its achievements since 1962.

    OPTS Chairman and Managing Director and Chief Executive of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Mr. Osagie Okunbor, said the event, apart from commemorating OPTS’s 55th anniversary, would help attract more investment to the industry.

    “The upstream oil & gas industry is very important to our country as it generates up to 90 per cent of our foreign exchange earnings. So, it is one of the most important sectors of our economy and we want to build an OPTS group that is well-placed to contribute to policies and laws that ensure that this sector of our economy works very well,” Okunbor said.

    He added that OPTS member-firms are proud of their achievements and contributions to the Nigerian economy over the years and are ready to contribute to the continued growth of the industry and Nigeria despite the current challenges in the global markets.

    Aside from the Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo, a number of other notable speakers from Nigeria and the global energy sector are also billed to attend the event. They include the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of Trade & Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah, the Chairman of Dubri Oil and first indigenous Chairman of OPTS, Dr. Uduimo Itsueli, Dr. Tim Okon, Special Adviser, Fiscal to the Hon. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, and the Leader, McKinsey Oil & Gas Practice, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Mr. Occo Roelofsen.

    The OPTS is a sub-group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) and is an umbrella association for local and foreign-owned companies registered in Nigeria who hold an Oil Prospecting Licence or Oil Mining Licence.

    From an initial three member-firm at inception, the OPTS has grown to 27 members, including some of the leading names in the Nigerian Upstream Oil and Gas industry and its members account for over 80 per cent of the production volumes in the industry.

  • Business success habits for SMEs (PART 2)

    Business success habits for SMEs (PART 2)

    1. Feedback Mechanism:

    The good habit every entrepreneur must practice is to have a good feedback system in place. It is important that on a regular basis you get feedback from your customers on the quality of your product or service and always ask for suggestion on how better you can serve them.

    As business people, we must welcome suggestions and take complaint as gift. Any customer that offers you suggestion on how to better your service or product should be seen as somebody that loves you and your business.

    1. Know Your Competitors:

    The knowledge of your competitors is key in determining how far your business can go. If you don’t find out what competitors are doing in the industry you are operating in, before you know it, you will be out of business. Some of the things an entrepreneur must know about his competitors include:

    • Their current performance in the market
    • Pricing strategy
    • Quality of their products
    • Promotional strategy
    • Their intentions or what they are planning to do.
    1. Innovation:

    Every entrepreneur must be constantly innovative. It may just be improvement on an existing idea that will make all the difference. You must constantly ask the question on what else can be done differently. You must have your own Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Your customers are always looking for value addition and you must be ready to do that to remain in business.

    One of the ways to achieve this is to devote time for critical thinking.

    1. Good Networking:

    One way to enhance and improve your customer base is to constantly increase your network. Every business owner must be involved in trade association, community activity, business clubs, chambers of trade and commerce and using personal contacts through social media networking.

    This will help you as a business person to promote your business as well as assist in building relationship with key stakeholders in your industry.

    1. Good Customer Data Base:

    One good habit SME should imbibe is to have a means of getting information about potential or existing customers. Some of the basic data required are: phone number, email, addresses, sex, age group, date of birth and residential address. This will enhance the marketing of your products and services to the customers. You can imagine sending an SMS to your customer on his /her birthday. Mostly likely, you will not only win the customer, but such customer will also help you market your product or services.

    1. Good Internal Control System:

    Every business that wants to succeed must institute a good internal control system.

    Some of the areas that must be covered include:

    • Good inventory management system. There must be proper stock records, regular stock taking and re-order level.
    • Division of labour and segregation of duties.
    • Financial control as it relates to banking of transactions, expenses policy and approval principle.
    • Operational policy as per hours of business, production policy, employment policy etc.
    1. Human Resource Management:

    All SMEs irrespective of size, must have a good Human Resource Policy in place.

    This will cover all staffing issues such as:

    • Key staff and their roles
    • Necessary skills and experience for each position.
    • Staff handbook
    • Job description and job analysis
    • Succession plan etc.
    1. Staff Meeting:

    Regular staff meeting preferably weekly must be in place for every organization. This forum will enable staff to formally contribute to the growth of the business. It also gives staff sense of belonging and help management to resolve issues early enough.

    The above habits are very important for SMEs to enhance their growth and also to build lasting businesses.

     

    Mr Tomi Omojuwa

    tomiomojuwa@gmail.com

    08134354847 (WhatsApp only)

  • This ‘monkey’ business

    According to a famous local fable in the South-west Nigeria, the original intention of the Creator was to make monkey look precisely like man. But somewhere along the line, monkey couldn’t apply the desirable patience for the Maker to ultimately accomplish this noble desire. The monkey suddenly started yelling across town, telling anyone that cared to listen that very soon it shall take the exact form of man. The Creator allegedly became infuriated about the monkey’s lack of restraint and decorum and thus truncated the monkey’s transformation process midway. This, explains the fable, is why monkeys share certain traits with man. For instance, monkeys are generally considered to be particularly intelligent animals.

    Apart from such trendy tales about the evolution of monkeys, usually in Nigeria man doesn’t really have much to do with these near human animals. Unlike other animals such as dogs, goats, cows, sheep etc that are reared and eaten, the nearest place where a glimpse of monkeys could be gotten is in the zoo. Though monkeys are kept at home as pets, but the practice isn’t really widespread in our clime. Here, monkeys either stay in the zoo or in the jungle.

    But all that seems to have changed now as monkeys have decided to infiltrate town under a new guise called monkey pox which is a viral illness caused by a group of viruses that include chicken pox and small pox. The first case of the virus was said to have been discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo and it had afterward spreads into the West African region. The virus has two types, the Central African and the West African types with the latter being milder and having no records of mortality.

    Sadly, Nigeria seems to be having her own fair share of this awful monkey business. According to the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, 31 cases of suspected monkey pox virus cases have been recorded in states such as Ekiti, Akwa- Ibom, Lagos, Ogun, Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross Rivers. Fortunately, there has not been any reported case of mortality arising from the virus outbreak.  A NCDC source claimed that public health authorities across the country have been well informed on what to do when a suspected case arises. The federal government had equally activated emergency operation centres in affected states to coordinate investigation and response in affected states.

    Meanwhile, in Lagos, the state government is investigating two suspected cases. This was revealed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who disclosed that though the two cases are yet to be confirmed monkey pox, government opted to be proactive for the safety of residents. Part of such safety measures according to Dr. Idris was to quarantine the two suspects in their various houses pending the result of some medical tests conducted on them. Consequently, the state government is advising members of the public to observe and maintain a high standard of personal and environmental hygiene at all times as part of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

    Experts have revealed that while there is no specific vaccine for the disease, vaccination against small pox has been proven to be 85 percent effective in preventing monkey pox. There is also no specific anti-viral therapy for monkey pox. However, the disease is self-limiting and could be managed conservatively. The symptoms of monkey pox in human is similar to those in small pox patient, though less severe. Such symptoms include rash, fever, chills, sweats, headache, backache, lymphadenopathy, sore-throats, cough and shortness of breath.

    The main difference between symptoms of smallpox and monkey pox is that te latter causes lymph nodes to swell while smallpox does not. The incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkey pox is usually 7-14 days but can range from 5•21 days. Within the first three days or more, after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body.

    Monkey pox virus occurs when a person comes into contact with the virus from an animal, human, or materials contaminated with the virus. The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), respiratory tract or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth). Animal-to-human transmission may occur by bite or scratch, bush meat preparation, direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, or indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated bedding. Human-to-human transmission is thought to occur primarily through large respiratory droplets. Other human-to-human methods of transmission include direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, and indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated clothing or linens.

    In order to improve case detection, health workers are to have a high index of suspicion any person with the above symptoms. The preventive measures to be taken against the spread of the disease include avoiding close contact with infected people, avoiding consumption of bush meat and dead animals, cooking of meat and meat product thoroughly before eating and washing hands with soap and running water frequently and thoroughly.

    In our characteristic way of trivializing such sensitive issues, as the nation grapples with the reality of monkey pox, the whole monkey business took a comical dimension with an alleged report that the outbreak of the virus in Bayelsa State was as a result of a free medical care exercise it is allegedly administered in some parts of the Niger Delta. It took a statement from the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to deflate the supposed report. According to the minister, the federal government has not conducted any free medical service or care in either Bayelsa or Rivers State, as alleged in the said report.

    Of course, such amusing interlude wouldn’t in any way help in properly focusing on preventive measures against the virus. This time calls for sobriety and vigilance. Our national borders must be properly safeguarded to ensure that no one with the virus comes into the country. Similarly, schools and other such public institutions must not compromise hygiene. Public health officials must pay routine visits to schools in order to ensure compliance with accepted hygiene standard.

    Perhaps more importantly, everybody must be watchful of their health situation and swiftly report any odd health situation to the nearest medical facility. Failure to do this at the right moment may possibly jeopardize numerous lives. This is not exactly the moment in time to play with health related issues. Every household must continue to preach and imbibe positive hygiene measures to guide against harmful tendencies that could jeopardize family health.

     

    • Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
  • Sandra Odige, others for business of fashion seminar

    Sandra Odige, others for business of fashion seminar

    As its way of tackling the rising level of unemployment, fashion entrepreneur and fashion stylist, Jane Michael and a host of others have put together a fashion seminar tagged Building A Successful Career In Fashion; Secret From The Experts.

    The seminar, which is scheduled on hold on October 5 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, will be witnessed the crème de le crème in the fashion world.

    Speakers who will be impacting in the lives of the aspiring fahion entrepreneurs  are Jane Micheal Ekanem, Sandra Odige (Editor-in-Chief of one of the nation’s foremost La Mode Publication), Lola Emeruwa Taiwo (founder and CEO of LE Retailer), as well as Olamide Olarewaju (Brand Strategist, PR Expert and journalist).

    According to the organizers, the programme is to encourage and offer young talented ones the opportunity to learn the basic foundation of building a fashion brand and earning a sustainable living; and the careers that are available in the fashion industry.

    The event is held in conjunction with Blue Pearl Services International, Organizers of African Fashion and Design Week.

  • AMF Business Service, Safety awards

    Alpha Mead Facilities (AMF) has been adjudged winner of the High Quality Professional Business Service Award, organised by the 9jaSAFE Awards.

    The Award, which is designed to distinguish firms and individuals, who record outstanding results in their industries, recognised AMF, a facilities management (FM) company with operations in Nigeria, Dubai, South Africa, Ghana, Senegal and Cameroun for its outstanding achievements in the FM industry.

    “This is a well-deserved award, which we are convinced is merited, given the amount of time, financial and very high quality human resources that we have deployed to take charge of this aspect of our business,” Femi Akintunde, an engineer and Alpha Mead Group Managing Director,  said.

    He described the award as apt, giving the level of awareness about Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) in most organisations. “It’s quite unfortunate that some people still assume that safety is expensive, when in reality the cost of an accident or fatality far exceeds the initial cost of preventing same,” he added.

    He further explained that as a Health and Safety conscious organisation, the firm has, in its 10 years of operations, implemented strategies that ensure the strict compliance of its HSE policy, which is periodically reviewed to suit the dynamic nature of the business environment. Similarly, the company recently won the achievement award for Outstanding Commitment to Health, Safety, and Environment by the Nigeria Safety Award for Excellence.

    The Awards Co-ordinator, Mr. Jonathan Hicks, expressed pride in the success of the winners: “Working in this vibrant and exciting region offers many challenges and opportunities. Therefore, it is my pleasure to congratulate Alpha Mead Facilities and wish them the best of luck as they look ahead,”he said.

    The 9jaSAFE Awards is one of Nigeria’s most prestigious and respected award for Safety Professionals/Practitioners and organisations across the country. The award aims to recognise outstanding performances and laudable initiatives of companies and individuals, to foster and promote Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) best practices in the workplace and in the nation at large.

  • Cost of business registration in Nigeria now cheaper– CAC

    Cost of business registration in Nigeria now cheaper– CAC

    The Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Mr. Bello Mahmud, said on Tesday in Abuja that the cost of business registration in Nigeria was now cheaper and its process simplified to enable small entrepreneurs to register their businesses.

    Muhmud announced this in a statement by Head, Public Affairs, CAC, Mr Godfrey Ike.

    Muhmud disclosed this while addressing the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Clinic.

    He said that with the Company Registration Portal (CRP), any member of the public could now register businesses on-line at the comfort of their homes and offices.

    “This has drastically reduced the registration cost hitherto charged by professional middlemen (Lawyers, Accountants and Chartered Secretaries), in the registration process.

    “Entrepreneurs who had already registered their businesses have the obligation to file Annual Returns with the Commission as and when due.

    ” Failure to file Annual Returns will result to striking-off of such defaulting entities on ground of dormancy.

    ” The MSME Clinic is an initiative of the Office of the Vice President, which is aimed at holistically addressing all the operational challenges and bottlenecks of MSME in Nigeria,” Muhmud said.

    According to him, the commission is one of the critical government agencies that has been participating in the on-going nationwide MSME Clinic that commenced in Aba in January.

    He added that the MSME Clinic was expected to be held in all states of the federation.

    “So far, the Clinic has been held in 13 states of the federation,” he said.

    According to him, other relevant agencies like FIRS, SON, Bank Of Industry (BOI), NAFDAC, SMEDAN participated in the clinic. (NAN)

  • Intersections of human rights and business

    Intersections of human rights and business

    Text of a paper delivered by Prof A. D. Badaiki at the African Bar Association (AFBA) yearly conference in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    •Continued from September 19

    ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

    Both the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work set forth standards for corporations, other business enterprises, their officers and persons working for them. The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work was adopted in 1998. It restates the four fundamental ILO principles concerning (a) freedom of association and collective bargaining, (b) forced or compulsory labour, (c) child labour and (d) workplace discrimination. The Declaration requests that all parties should reaffirm these principles and promote their application in light of the “urgent” situation of growing economic interdependence. It also refers to the need to give special attention to the unemployed and migrants of whom amongst the latter category women comprise the largest segment, especially as States often do not include migrant workers in their labour standards.

    OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises 2000

    OECD guidelines for Multinational Enterprises 2000 (OECD guidelines) are joint recommendations by the OECD[16] to multinational enterprises operating in or from their territories for observance in view of the need of the adhering governments to maintain public order, to protect their essential security interests and to fulfill commitments relating to international peace and security. The OECD Guidelines provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business conduct consistent with applicable laws and government policies. This is against the background that governments have the right to prescribe the conditions under which multinational enterprises operate within their jurisdiction, subject to international law. In relation to human rights, the OECD Guidelines state that enterprises should respect the human rights of those affected by their activities consistent with the host governments’ international obligations and commitments.

    It is commendable that many enterprises have responded to these public concerns by developing internal programmes, guidance and management systems that underpin their commitment to good corporate citizenship, good practices and good business and employee conduct. Observance of the OECD guidelines are, nevertheless, voluntary and not legally enforceable. Moreover, membership of OECD excludes all African countries.

     UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights

    The most pervasive and useful rules, though also soft laws and not hard laws, on the responsibility of business enterprises to uphold human rights norms are enshrined in the Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights 2011. These rules were endorsed on 11th June, 2011 by the United Nations Human Rights Council. These became a new set of extant guiding principles setting a global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse impacts on human rights linked to business activity. It is an update of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Prior to the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, a Sub-Commission of the UN Commission on Human Rights, in 2004, unsuccessfully attempted to get approval for the “UN Norms on the Responsibility of Transnational Corporations and Other Businesses with regard to Human Rights”[17].

    By the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, three types of obligations were endorsed and developed: Duty to protect, duty to respect and duty to remedy.

    (i)       The state Duty to Protect Human Rights: This requires that states have the duty under international human rights law to protect everyone within their territories and/or jurisdictions from human rights abuses committed by business enterprises. The obligation means that States must take appropriate steps to have effective laws, regulations and policies to prevent, investigate and punish/redress business-related human rights abuses, and ensure access to effective remedy for those whose rights have been abused. Policies are required to be coherent. States must also create a regulatory environment that facilitates business respect for human rights. The laws and policies must support an appropriate adjudicatory system for the purpose of getting redress[18]. The Guiding Principles recommend that States set clear expectations that companies domiciled in their territories/jurisdictions respect human rights in every country and context in which they operate. It is further stipulated that States (home or host) should provide guidance, assistance and enforcement mechanism to ensure that business enterprises are not involved with abuses in conflict affected areas.

    (ii)  The Corporate Duty to Respect Human Rights: Business enterprises should respect human rights. The obligation entails obligations not to interfere with the enjoyment of human rights. The responsibility to respect applies to all internationally recognised human rights expressed in the International Bill of Human Rights and the International Labour Organisation Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

    Guideline 11 of part two (II) states that this means that business enterprises should avoid infringing on the human rights of others and should address adverse human rights impacts with which they are involved. Business enterprises have the responsibility to respect human rights wherever they operate and whatever their size, sector or industry, structures, responsibility, ownership and operational context. This responsibility means that companies must know their actual or potential impacts, prevent and mitigate abuses, and address adverse impacts with which they are involved. Companies must therefore know and show that they respect human rights in all their operations. They are required to carry out human rights due diligence.

    Furthermore, it is clarified under the Guidelines that the corporate responsibility to respect human rights exists independently of States’ ability or willingness to fulfill their duty to protect human rights. Importantly, no matter the context, States and business retain these distinct but complementary responsibilities[19].

    To meet the responsibility to respect, business enterprises must have the necessary policies and processes in place. Three components of this responsibility are stipulated by the Guiding Principles. First, companies must institute a policy commitment to meet the responsibility to respect human rights. Second, they must undertake ongoing human rights due diligence to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for their human rights impacts. Human rights due diligence should include assessments of internal procedures and systems, as well as external engagement with groups potentially affected by its operations. Human rights diligence refers to the process of identifying and addressing the human rights impacts of a business enterprise across its operations and products, and throughout its supplier and business partner networks. It is provided that companies should integrate the findings of the human rights due diligence processes into policies and procedures at the appropriate level, with resources and authority assigned. Companies should verify that this objective is achieved by constantly monitoring and evaluating their efforts. Companies should also communicate how they address human rights impact, including to those groups most likely to be affected. Third, companies must have processes in place to enable remediation for any adverse human rights impacts they cause or contribute to. Where businesses identify that they have caused or contributed to adverse impacts, they should co-operate in remediation through legitimate processes.

    (iii)  Duty to Provide Access to Remedy: This is a duty on the state as well as business enterprises. The tenet of this duty is consistent with a fundamental human rights system that when a right is violated, victims must have access to an effective remedy[20]. It is also an aspect of the State obligation to protect business-related human rights. The State duty to provide access to effective remedy entails the State taking some measures and refraining from taking some measures. The duty requires the State to take appropriate steps to ensure that State-based domestic judicial mechanisms effectively address business-related human rights abuses. It also requires the state to provide effective and appropriate non-judicial grievance mechanisms with the capacity to hear and adjudicate business-related human rights complaints. On the other hand, there is a responsibility on the part of the State not to erect barriers such as administrative fees or lack of language interpreters that prevent victims from presenting their cases.

    As regards business enterprises, the Guiding Principles stipulate that business enterprises should provide for, or participate in, effective mechanisms for fielding and addressing grievances from individuals and communities who may be adversely impacted by the company’s operations. A list of effectiveness criteria for State-based or company-based non-judicial grievance mechanisms. These are that grievance mechanisms should be legitimate, accessible, predictable, equitable and rights-compatible. Such criteria should provide genuine remedies for victims of human rights violations by companies and must not be mere communications or political exercises. It is required that operational – level mechanisms should be based on engagement and dialogue with the stakeholder groups whose rights they seek to remedy.

    The Guiding Principles further stipulate that multi stakeholder and other collaborative initiatives based on human rights – related standards can also contribute to providing effective access to remedy.

    Implementation of the Guiding Principles: For purposes of implementation of the Guiding Principles, there is a five-man U.N. Working Group on Business and Human Rights. They are experts and with a three-year term. Aside from discussing trends and challenges in the implementation of the Guiding Principles, the Group also promote dialogue, co-operation and sharing of good practices.

    (b)   Regional Instruments

    Relevant laws and institutions on human rights exist at African regional level. These are in the form of Treaties, Protocols, Declarations, Resolutions, policies and programmes establishing supranational laws and institutions in Africa as a whole or sectionally. They include the following:

    AU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (1969) which entered into force in 1974.

    African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (1981) which entered into force in 1984.

    African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990) which entered into force in 1999.

    Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (1991) which entered into force in 1994.

    Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples Rights (1998) which entered into force in 2004.

    OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism (1999) which entered into force in 2002.

    Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (2003) which entered into force in 2005; and

    Protocol of the Court of Justice of the African-Union (2003).

    There are also several institutions for the enforcement of human rights at regional levels in Africa. At least over ten supranational organisations in Africa have provisions in their Treaties/Protocols for the establishment of some form of regional courts[21]. Consequently, the following regional courts, among others, exist:

    African Union Court of Justice, AUCJ located at East Africa (unspecified yet).

    African Court on Human and Peoples Rights, ACHPR operating from Arusha, Tanzania (which is now being proposed to be merged with the AUCJ).

    Ecowas Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS OCJ located at Abuja, Nigeria.

    Arab Maghreb Union Instance Justiciare, AMUIJ located at Nouakchott, Mauritania.

    HADA CCIA located at Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

    West Africa Economic and Monetary Union Community Court of Justice WAEMU CCJ located at Ouagadougou, Bokina Faso.

    East African Community Court of Justice, EAC CJ located at Arusha, Tanzania.

    Southern African Development Tribunal, SADC Tribunal located at Windhoek, Namibia.

    Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Community Court of Justice COMESA CCJ located at Khartoum, Sudan.

    CEMAC CCJ located at N’Djamena, Chad etc.

    (c)       Domestic/National Instruments

    The UDHR and the European Convention for the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms influenced many countries to include international human rights norms in their Constitutions and some other statutes. Throughout Africa there are various provisions on human rights in the respective constitutions, statutes and regulations as well as application of several treaties and protocols of supranational organisations. In Nigeria, for instance, chapter four of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides for fundamental human rights. There is also the Human Rights Commission Act[22] which enabled the establishment of National Human Rights Commission. For purposes of enforcement, the relevant rules are enshrined in the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009. Under the Constitution the High Court is vested with the jurisdiction to determine human rights cases. South Africa took a step forward in the establishment of human rights promotion institutions especially the Constitutional Court and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

     A critique

    The usefulness of the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights is that, notwithstanding that they constitute soft laws, the principles prescribed for business enterprises are tantamount to prompting and can prompt business enterprises to human rights friendly business environment. This is not to undermine the avalanche of human rights violations by corporations in respect of such rights as rights at work, right to clean environment, right to freedom of association, right to health, right to life and right to development. These are exacerbated by poverty and capability deprivation to access to justice engendered by poverty, ignorance, cultural impediments, political factors, corruption and lack of enabling environment for the enjoyment of human rights.

    In encouraging foreign investments, the actions of government often affect positively or negatively the environmental and human rights standards such as freedom of association and freedom of speech to attract investment. This “race – to – the bottom” practice prevails in the context of Economic Processing Zones (EPZ). The argument for this practice may not be convincing as it encourages violations of human rights, by business enterprises where adequate complimentary policies are non existent.

    The action of investors can affect the enjoyment of human rights depending on how investors and government manage investment together. The cases of the Ogoni people in Rivers State of Nigeria under the ACHPR, and Myanmar are germane.

    In view of the emphasis on state responsibility to establish and observe human rights by international human rights instruments, there are sometimes some obnoxious assumptions. The first assumption is that non-state actors as corporations can violate human rights and are not bound and capable of enforcing human rights. The second assumption is that thrusting the State with the responsibility to respect human rights cannot guarantee an effective enforcement in a globalised world. As regards the first assumption, international human rights instruments recognise specific human rights, for example, slavery and forced labour that can be violated by non-state actors. In addition, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[23] imposes a duty on every individual and organ of society to secure the universal recognition and observance of these rights[24]. The Maastricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (“the Maastricht Guidelines”) stipulate that “entities insufficiently regulated by States” are capable of violating economic, social and cultural rights”.

    •To be continued next week

  • Tourism means business

    Tourism means business

    This year’s World Tourism Day, September 27, is another time to think about Nigeria’s approach to tourism and to rethink. The celebration will focus on “Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development.”

    World Tourism Day has been celebrated since 1980, and previous editions have featured topics including Peace and Dialogue, Energy, Accessibility, World Heritage, and Water and Tourism. To mark the occasion, the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN), Taleb Rifai, said: “Last year alone, 1.235 million travellers crossed international borders in one single year. By 2030, this 1.2 billion will become 1.8 billion. The question, as we celebrate World Tourism Day 2017, is how we can enable this powerful global transformative force, these 1.8 billion opportunities, to contribute to make this world a better place and to advance sustainable development in all its three pillars. This World Tourism Day, whenever you travel, wherever you travel, remember to respect nature, respect culture and respect your host.”

    It is interesting that the theme of the celebration this year underlines the role of tourism in development. If tourism has a development role, then development should have a tourism role. This linkage is not easily grasped by Nigeria’s tourism authorities.

    Perhaps the new Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr. Folorunso Coker, will help to drive a necessary rethinking of tourism. In July, he launched a roadmap designed to develop the tourism industry and contribute to the country’s development. It is called “Destination Nigeria: Tourism Development Roadmap (2017-2021).”

    Coker gave a useful insight into his thinking on tourism, saying: “Tourism is a business of moving people from point A to B and back to A or further up to point C. It is transportation by air, by road, by water. Transportation entails servicing of vehicles, buying of new tyres and all sorts of maintenance issues of consumption, and that is business. It is when the traveller gets to the destination, is it for business, or pleasure? That is business. The hotel where he stays, the food he eats and other things there are business. We want to change the perception that people have always had about tourism that it is just Arts and Culture.”

    He supplied statistics to support his business-oriented approach: “Tourism is responsible for 10 percent of the global GDP; it is about 8 trillion dollars in value; it is responsible for one in eleven jobs, which is more than the oil industry; it is the largest employer of labour in the world, about 292 million people. And strategically, it employs predominantly women and the youth. It is responsible for about 1.4 trillion in foreign exchange; it is responsible for 10 percent of world trade, and responsible for 30 percent of service export.”

    He added: “Now you can see how important the industry is. And for it to make this huge contribution to any economy, it has to be treated as a serious business. It has to be invested in for you to reap the huge values out of it. So tourism must be treated as business not as leisure or pastime activity that it has always been classified as.”

    It may well be that tourism needs a business model. In line with Coker’s business approach, the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibrin, announced that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) had approved the partial commercialisation of three national parks as a pilot scheme.  Jibrin said: “Nigerian national parks are faced with numerous challenges which militate against their accelerated development. Prominent among these are: insecurity, inadequate funds for developmental projects, trans-boundary conservation activities and sustainable livelihood options, deterioration of infrastructure, lack of capacity, dearth of manpower and equipment and, above all, absence of strategic partnerships.”

    Jibrin continued: “It is in a bid to reverse the trend and raise the standards of national parks to global best practices that the Federal Government recently unbundled national parks to encourage private participation in their development and management. Already, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has approved the partial commercialisation of the service. The council has also approved the immediate commercialisation of the eco-tourism components of three national parks, namely, Gashaka Gumti, Cross River and Kainji Lake national parks as a pilot scheme. In this regard, the management of the National Park Service is working with relevant government agencies to ensure a securer and investment friendly environment in and around the national parks. I therefore urge potential investors to take advantage of this window and invest in national parks.”

    Nigeria can a lesson or two from the official celebrations of World Tourism Day 2017, which will be held in Qatar, as decided by the UNWTO General Assembly. The planned activities demonstrate a serious, business-like approach to tourism: “The event will be structured around two sessions, focused on ‘Tourism as a driver of economic growth,’ and ‘Tourism and the Planet: committed to a greener future.’ In addition, a high-level think tank will be conducted with the aim of opening the debate on the potential of the sector to enhance cultural preservation and mutual understanding. On the Agenda will also be the presentation of the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy, which advances sustainable approaches. The initiative is aligned with the Qatar National Vision 2030, which focuses on Economic, Social and Human Development and prioritizes tourism as a catalyst to progress towards a more diversified economy.”

    When will Nigeria move beyond paying lip service to tourism as a tool for development?  It is reassuring that Coker has an action plan and sounds like an action man who means business. As part of the plan, “the corporation will champion the upgrade of beaches and waterfronts in Cross River, Bayelsa and Lagos states to world- class standard, launch the National Tourism Fund as a joint initiative of the private and public sectors, including international donors and agencies, review of the NTDC Act No 81 of 1992 and all tourism laws, licensing rates and fees.”

    Hopefully, the NTDC under Coker will fulfill the early promise and chart a course for development-oriented tourism based on a business model that works.

      

    • This columnist is going on vacation.
  • Intersections of human rights and business

    Intersections of human rights and business

    Text of a paper delivered by Prof A. D. Badaiki at the African Bar Association (AFBA) annual conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Business and business associations are generally associated with pursuit of the interests of investors and profitability. Business associations very often, pursue their own economic self-interest regardless of the harmful consequences they might cause to others. Such an unbridled self-interest can culminate in violation of human rights. With increased tempo of deregulation and even privatisation, the risk of human rights infractions are accentuated. The victims of human rights violations in business transactions include the investors (shareholders and creditors) themselves, directors, employees, customers and even the society itself. With globalisation of modern business and extensive developments of human rights, there has been an increased public awareness of the social and environmental costs of business especially by multinational corporations. Human rights compliance by business organisations has therefore become a critical issue. This is particularly so in view of the requirements of the 2011 United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Businesses are required to have human rights policies, to carry out due diligence in all their operations and supply chains, and to ensure that there is redress. Accordingly, business and regulatory world alike have adopted the UNGPs as legal rather than hitherto moral rules. This paper focuses on the intersection of business and human rights and make recommendations on how to avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts and escape liability for human rights violations.

    Introduction

    In many ways business associations, especially corporations, “govern our lives”[1]. They play a positive role in contributing to the economic development and general prosperity of a nation[2]. By the nature of their general pathological pursuit of profit and power and investor protection objectives, many corporations and individuals within the corporation commit and even sometimes grave human rights abuses in different business situations in which such corporations and individuals are duty-bearers. In view of the clamour, especially by developing countries, for foreign investment to stimulate meaningful economic development, it becomes imperative therefore to strike a balance between corporate business behavior and human rights. Aside from corporations’ self-regulatory internal rules that may exist, there is the more important necessity to regulate, at national and supranational levels, activities of corporations in order to prevent, protect and respect human rights as well as remedy human rights violations in the complex stream of intersection of human rights and business in a globalised eco-legal order. This paper focuses on the types of obligations that are imposed on State and such Non-State Actors as corporations and other business entities to observe human rights. It will refer to the human rights that can and are commonly violated while corporations and entities carry out business. It will also identify the instruments for formulation and enforcement of human rights norms in business, and offer a critique of the level of corporate accountability for respect for human rights.

    Meaning and classification of human rights

     The concept of human rights has been viewed from different perspectives – normative, legal, philosophical, political, religious and cultural. The Black’s Law Dictionary defines human rights as the freedoms, immunities, and benefits that, according to modern values (especially at an international level), all human beings should be able to claim as a matter of right in the society in which they live[3]. A number of definitions have been proffered by scholars. Louis Henkin defines human rights as: claims which every individual has, or should have, upon the society in which she or he lives. To call them human rights suggests that they are universal; they are the due of every being in every human society. They do not differ with geography or do not depend on gender or race, class or status. To call them ‘rights’ implies that they are claims ‘as of rights’ not merely appeals to grace, or charity or brotherhood or love; they need not be earned or deserved. They are more than aspirations or assertion of ‘the good’ but claims of entitlement and corresponding obligation in some political order under some applicable law if only in a moral order under a moral law… When used carefully, ‘human rights are not some abstract, inchoate ‘good’. The rights are particular, defined, and familiar, reflecting respect for individual autonomy, as well as a common sense of justice and injustice[4].

    Umozurike defines human rights as: claims, which are invariably supported by ethics and which should be supported by law, made on society, especially on its official managers, by individuals or groups on the basis of humanity. They apply regardless of race, colour, sex or other distinction and may not be withdrawn or denied by governments, people or individuals. They may also be defined in terms of individual self-interest. They are those rights which every individual claims or aspires to enjoy irrespective of his colour, race, religion, status in life, etc. The most rabid or despotic violator of the human rights of others jealously guards his own rights. The problem in human rights is extending the same recognition, enjoyment and esteem for ourselves to others. The true standard of a society may be determined from the level of adherence of its members, especially the rulers, to the principles of human rights. They may lead themselves to specialties while retaining their universality[5].

    Similarly, Eze’s definition refers to human rights as representing demands or claims which individuals or groups make on society, some of which are protected by law and have become part of the lex lata while others remain aspirations in the future[6]. The definition brings out the distinction between human rights protected by law and those which are acknowledged but remain aspirations to be met in the future. Erugo correctly pointed out that the definition gives a lead to understanding the varying positions and the practice of international human rights norms in different societies[7]. Like the other definitions, this definition is universalist and has positive outlook. However, Ezejiofor‘s similar universalist definition of human rights appears to be rooted in natural law thinking. He defined human rights as ‘moral rights which every human being everywhere at all times, ought to have, simply because of the fact that in contradistinction with other beings, he is rational and moral’[8].

    All these definitions are an expression of the classical theory that only the rights of human beings, but not those of groups or entities, can be human rights. In view of human rights norms that have been evolved by developing countries as encompassing collective rights, a definition of human rights cannot be limited to individuals as right-bearers. Most of such collective rights as the rights to clean environment, development, self-determination, peace and freedom of groups from genocide, and humanitarian assistance are protected under some human rights instruments. Articles 19-24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) provide for peoples’ rights such as the right to self-determination; right to development; national and international peace and security; and the right to a general satisfying environment favourable to development. Human rights can therefore safely be defined generally as inalienable claims or entitlements which a person has because he is a human being, and which a group of individuals or communities enjoy under certain circumstances.

    Human rights are traditionally or commonly categorised into generations. The ‘first generation’ rights or liberty-oriented rights such as civil and political rights. The ‘second generation’ rights or security-oriented rights consisting of economic, social and cultural rights. The ‘third generation’ or group rights is also known as ‘solidarity’ human rights. Human rights are also classified into fundamental or basic rights, auxiliary or subsidiary rights. The classification of human rights should not be regarded as hierarchic in importance, or divisible, but as a construction of emergence of the different rights in different historical periods[9]. Never in a straight-jacket; human rights are interrelated and interdependent in their relevance and realisation.

    Instruments for formulation and enforcement of human rights norms in business

     There are several international, regional and domestic instruments for formulation and enforcement of human rights norms, many of which norms are relevant and applicable to business setting and the understanding of the nature of the intersection between human rights and business.

     International Instruments

    The relevant international instruments set standards of human rights for promotion and protection by the comity of nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which is the first International Bill of Rights is borne out of the widespread conviction by nations, from the experience of the Second World War, that effective protection of human rights was one of the essential conditions of international peace and progress. The UDHR was adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on 10th December, 1948: as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

    Some of the inadequacies in the human rights provisions of the UN Charter, for example, absence of precise definition of human rights and general nature of the legal obligation necessitated supplementing the Charter by subsequent international instruments and adoption of covenants giving more specific content to rights protected and providing more sophisticated enforcement procedures.

    In the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the essence of the Declaration is stated to be “the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations”. The preamble further states the fundamental principle underlying the rights listed in the Declaration to be the “inherent dignity, and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family”. Similarly, Article 1 of the Declaration expresses the universality of rights in terms of the equality of human dignity.

    Two broad kinds of rights are proclaimed in the Declaration. The first category refers to civil and political rights consisting of the right to life, liberty, and security of person; freedom from slavery and torture; equality before the law; protection against arbitrary arrest, detention or exile; the right to a fair trial; the right to own property; political participation; the right to marriage; fundamental freedoms of thought, conscience and religion, opinion and expression; freedom of peaceful assembly and association; the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives[10]. The second category are economic, social and cultural rights, which include the right to work, equal pay for equal work; the right to form and join trade unions; the right to adequate standards of living; the right to education; and the right to participate freely in cultural life[11].

    Although the UDHR falls into the category of “soft law”, that is, not legally binding, its standards are principles which are respected by all nations as they have universal acceptance; and many countries have incorporated the provisions of the Declaration in their constitutions[12].

    Apart from the UDHR, both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) also recognise private obligations in their preambles, which is stated in the following terms: ‘the individual having duties to other individuals and to the community of which he belongs, is under a responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of the rights recognised in the present Covenant[13]. Another often cited reference to the human rights obligations of business corporations is the reaffirmation by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in its General Comment No. 14, that while only States are parties to the Covenant and thus ultimately accountable for compliance with it, “all members of society – individuals…, as well as the private business sector – have responsibilities regarding the realisation of the rights to health…”.

    However, there are non-binding instruments, or so called ‘soft law’, such as the UN Global Compact 2000, the ILO Tripartite[14] Declaration of principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Organisation for Economic and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises 2000, the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights 2011. Notably, the earlier ‘UN Norms on the Responsibility of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with regard to Human Rights 2004, were opposed and abandoned in 2005.

     UN Global compact

     The UN Global Compact was adopted as a UN initiative to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation. The UN Global Compact is a principle-based framework for businesses, which stipulates ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. When, however, the Global Compact was adopted in June 1998, announced on 31st January, 1999 and officially launched on 26th July, 2000, the Compact set forth only nine principles derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ILO Tripartite Declaration on the Environment and Development. On June 24, 2004, during the first Global Compact Summit, the then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced the addition of the tenth principle against corruption in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption adopted in 2003. Under the Global Compact, companies are brought together with UN agencies, labour groups and civil society. Cities can join the Global Compact through the Cities programme.

    The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability (a.k.a. corporate social responsibility) initiative with 13,000 corporate participants and other stakeholders over 170 countries. It has two objectives, first, to “mainstream the ten principles in business activities around the world”, and second to “catalyse actions in support of broader UN goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

    Of the 10 principles of UN Global Compact, two (principles 1 and 2) intersect human rights with businesses. Principle 1 provides that businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights, and principle 2 states that businesses should make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses. Four (principles 3, 4, 5 and 6) are on labour standards that businesses should uphold. Principles 3, 4, 5 and 6 stipulate respectively that businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour; the effective abolition of child labour; and the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation. Principles 7, 8 and 9 which are on environment require that businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges, undertake initiatives to promote environmental responsibility; and encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies. The last principle (principle 10) which deals with corruption is to the effect that businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

    The principles in the UN Global Compact are not imperative rules. Moreover, the UN Global Compact is not a regulatory instrument, but rather a forum for discussion and a network for communication including governments, companies and labour organisations, whose actions it seeks to influence, and civil society organisations, representing its stakeholders. As mentioned by the Compact’s Executive Director, Lise Kingo in an interview in 2015, “we are the guide dogs, not the watchdogs”. By implication, the UN Global Contact is non-committed and does not enforce discipline. It lacks mechanisms for sanctioning non-compliance or lack of progress. To some extent, companies can misuse the Global Compact as a public relations instrument for “blue wash”. Blue washing refers to the alleged practice of companies claiming their membership or participation in philanthropic and charity- based activity as an excuse and perhaps as an entry door to increase corporate influence upon international organisations[15]. Its usefulness lies mainly, though not exclusively, on it providing resources and support, and serves as a channel for providing facilitation, and encourages policy dialogues, learning, local networks and projects.

    •To continued next week

  • NIPCO has broken gas business monopoly, says marketers

    NIPCO has broken gas business monopoly, says marketers

    The Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) has broken the monopoly of International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the gas market, Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), President Nosa Ogieva-Okunbor has said.

    During a visit to NIPCO in Lagos, he said the IOCs hitherto had almost total control of the market before the company came in 2009.

    He noted that NALPGAM as an important value chain in the LPG distribution process appreciate the contribution of NIPCO in the chain and will forever be grateful to the organisation.

    According to him, the company’s recent expansion project which will make her the biggest LPG plant in Nigeria awesome and a delight to them as it will have a positive impact on storage and availability of LPG in the domestic market.

    Barrister Ogieva –Okunbor noted that as a key stakeholder in the business, it is imperative of them to associate with market leader like NIPCO as a form of encouraging  the company in its investment drive to grow LPG sector in Nigeria.

    He informed the NIPCO management of the setting up of a human resource development centre by the association to grow technical know-how in the industry and offer avenue for exchange of ideas in the interest of the stakeholders.

    While promising increased business relationship on behalf of its members who own hundreds of bottling plants across the country, Barrister Ogieva–Okunbor said:‘’ the partnership of NALPGAM and NIPCO is key to the smooth transition of gas to the end users’’.

    In his remarks, Managing Director, NIPCO, Mr Sanjay Teotia, said the ongoing expansion in its LPG plant is geared at improving the gas distribution value chain by providing veritable avenue for storage and dispense to bottling plants owners and other ancillary operators in the LPG market.

    He restated the company’s commitment to high safety standards and accurate loadings, a feat that has been NIPCO key objectives in its operations since inception.

    The MD will cooperate with the association in ensuring that its gas prices are affordable and poised to increase avenue for more meaningful business for  marketers even as he urged NALPGAM to ensure that bottling plant owners consider the end users in pricing as well as accuracy in quantity dispense.

    He told the visiting LPG marketers that quality certificate of each consignment being loaded to their members will be sent to the association for onward passage to their members.

    The highlight of the visit was the presentation of an award to NIPCO as the 2017  best LPG marketer identifying its   LPG  sales  head ,Harjeet Tuteja as the best salesman of the year.