The Nation Newspaper

Tag: compensation

  • Second Niger Bridge: Fed Govt votes N2bn for compensation

    The Federal Government has set aside N2 billion to compensate those dislodged on the Right of Way (RoW) of the Second Niger Bridge, The Nation has learnt.

    The cash is under the main contract stage of the bridge which has just commenced.

    Beneficiaries are those whose properties and livelihoods will be affected by the project.

    Those affected in the early stage of the project got N441 million as compensation. They were those affected by the “early works contract 1234” awarded during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    It was gathered that the “early works” stage of the bridge is barely visible because the major work involves sinking of the pillars in the river and surface clearing to make way for the access roads.

    Already, 96 per cent of the “early works” had been completed and a source involved in the implementation of the Second Niger Bridge (2NB) said over 90 per cent  of the “early works” was completed under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, but the Buhari-led government has kept faith and provided funding to complete the “early works” stage.

    The Buhari administration, the source revealed, has, besides releasing funds to complete the “early works”, made budgetary provisions for starting the “main works”.

    According to the source, “compensation to be paid for ‘main works’ is N1.578 billion but the Federal Ministry of Works is still valuing properties, such as high rises and factories and taking inventory before commencing compensation for the “main works”.

    Residents of Asaba and Onitsha, the two communities on the two ends of the Second Niger Bridge , have been calling on the Federal Government and the contractors to consider hiring the locals for the execution of the contract.

    Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration for the commitment to complete the project after years of promises by previous administrations.

    The royal father noted that the people of the region “believe the completion of the bridge would positively impact their economic and social life”.

    Pledging the support of the host communities, Ìgwè Achebe, urged the contractors, especially Julius Berger, to ensure more employment opportunities are given to the indigenes in the project execution.

    Project Director Freidrich Josef Weiser put the implementation status of the project at about 16 per cent completion.

    Mr. Weiser promised the commitment of Messrs. Julius Berger to deploying its capacity to deliver the project in record time.

    He also said that over 50 per cent of those working on the site were drawn from the host communities.

    The Nation learnt that N33 billion had been released for the project.

    Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority managing Director Mr. Uche Orji, confirmed the figure during a recent inspection of the project, which is estimated to cost about N220 billion.

  • Owners seek compensation for demolished house

    Residents of Igbogbo Baiyeku in Ikorodu, Lagos yesterday protested at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    They complained that the government had not compensated them for their demolished houses.

    The protesters carried placards with the inscriptions: “We say no to selective payment,” “Please pay our compensation as promised”, among others.

    Addressing the protesters, Majority Leader Sanai Agunbiade representing Ikorodu 1 said development always comes with pains, adding that the demolition followed reconstruction of roads.

    Read also: Buhari: why I defeated Jonathan in 2015

    The lawmaker, who hailed the protesters for their peaceful conduct, promised that the government, in conjunction with the House of Assembly, would look into the matter.

    He assured them that the matter would be presented to Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, promising that the government would pay those yet to be compensated.

     

  • NSITF creates special fund for compensation

    The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has created a special fund to ensure prompt settlement of claims and compensation of injured workers.

    Its Executive Director, Operations, Mrs Kemi Nelson, said the decision was informed by the need to meet the 14 days payment timeline set by the management of NSITF.

    She said: “The management thinks that it is injurious and criminal to delay the payment of compensation of victims. That is why we have dedicated a certain percentage of money that comes into the Fund to claim and compensation payment. This has ensure that time would even come when claims and compensation would be in dire need of funding.”

    She said reducing accidents in the workplace and rehabilitating workers that sustain various degrees of injuries have impacted positively on the stability of families and give hope to women that lost their breadwinners to work.

    “The NSITF should not be within the context of preventing injuries in the workplace and rehabilitating workers that sustain injuries in the course of work, but within the larger context of ensuring that the family does not suffer as a result of bread winners inability to work or die in the course of work.

    “We have women who lose their husbands to workplace accident that are getting a sort of lifeline from the NSITF. Such women and their children do not need to rely on the goodwill of the family for survival. So, for us at the NSITF, seeing that women are no longer stranded after the demise of their husbands is so important to us and that is why we are striving to reduce payment of compensation to only 14 working days after the necessary papers have been filed in our offices,” she said.

    Nelson said the management of the NSITF places top priority on creating and maintaining a stable and friendly environment at work, saying: “Since we came on board, we have tried to create an environment where friends interact to deliver credible service to the people. We have not had any labour issue since we came on board because we have made workers welfare the cornerstone of all we have been doing.”

  • Fed Govt pays N135m compensation to victims of 2013 killing by DSS

    THE Federal Government has paid N135 million compensation to the 19 victims of the September 20, 2013, shooting by men of  the Department of State Services (DSS) in an uncompleted building behind the Apo Legislative quarters, Abuja.

    The payment made yesterday by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, on behalf of the Federal Government, was in compliance with the award made in 2014 by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) after it investigated the case.

    A team of men of the Army and DSS had on September 20, 2013 invaded the uncompleted building behind the Apo Legislative quarters, Abuja and shot eight people dead and injured 11.

    The Army and DSS had claimed that they shot and killed the squatters in self-defence. They further claimed that the security operatives carried out the early morning raid on the uncompleted building upon receiving intelligence reports that members of Boko Haram sect were hiding in the building preparatory to attacking government targets in Abuja.

    Upon a petition by friends, family members and relatives of the victims, the NHRC conducted inquiry on the incident, following which it released a report of its findings and recommendations on April 7, 2014.

    The NHRC, in its report, declared that the killing of the eight, who were later identified as tricycle riders, was “unlawful”.

    The commission, in the 83-page report, awarded N135 million as compensation to the 19 victims of the incident, which included the award of N10 million each to families of the eight people killed and N5 million to each of the 11 that sustained injuries.

    NHRC equally directed the office of the Attorney General of the Federation to lodge the evidence of payment with the commission’s office within 30 days.

    The commission noted that contrary to claim by the security operatives that those killed were members of Boko Haram, they (security operatives) did not even interview those injured after the shooting to establish their connection or otherwise to the sect.

    NHRC noted that before the operation, the security operatives ought to have interrogated the owners of the property where the squatters were killed.

    It said contrary to claim by the security operatives that arms were hidden in the uncompleted building,  no arms and ammunition were shown to have been recovered from the property, where the squatters were killed.

    Malami, while presenting a cheque of N135 million to representatives of the victims in his office yesterday, said the eventual payment was a result of negotiations by parties.

    He said: “I am glad to inform you that the NHRC has received the payment from the DSS and the process of payment of the money to the beneficiaries starts today.

    “I am further glad to inform the public of this gesture, the first of its kind in Nigeria, coming from President Muhammadu Buhari, which is confirming his commitment to the rule of law, upholding justice and respect to human rights.

    “This gesture also confirms his (President’s) enduring legacy of ensuring that justice is seen to be done to every Nigerian.”

    In-coming Executive Secretary of the NHRC Tony Ojukwu said the final payment of the compensation was commendable.

    He said NHRC ordered the DSS to pay the compensation in furtherance of its powers under the commission’s amended Act.

    He added: “In fact, under Section 6(4) of the NHRC Act 1995 (as amended), it is now an offence punishable with imprisonment for six months or N100,000 to refuse to provide evidence, obstruct or do anything to prevent the commission from lawful exercise of its functions or refuse to comply with the lawful directives, determination, decision or findings of the commission.

    “It is in fulfilment of its mandate that the commission exercised its powers to make a finding of gross human rights violation of the victims of this incident and accordingly awarded the present damages of N135 million against the DSS.”

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter Chairman of the National Commercial Tricycle Owners and Riders Association (NACTOMORAD), Usman Buba Gwazo, who spoke for the beneficiaries of the compensation, hailed the NHRC for its efforts.

     

     

     

     

     

  • How to ace salary related questions in an interview

    How to ace salary related questions in an interview

    Landing that dream job is a job in itself.

    The interview process that leads to an eventual selection of suitable candidate(s) can be a very arduous and tasking experience especially for the job seeker.

    Let’s say time, chance, competence and serendipity have all collaborated with you that you conveniently aced all interview questions. Then comes the big question: “What salary do you expect?”

    At this critical junction, a lot of people begin to flounder and goof for lack of tact and creativity that could ensure their landing the job without shortchanging themselves or downplaying their professional values and worth.

    Another question job seekers get asked is “What is your current salary?”. This practice is fast becoming illegal around the world.

    Although, these twin questions are not illegal in our clime, you will need a great amount of tact and creativity to conveniently answer.

    Checking out these 6 tips that’ll help you handle salary questions:

    1. Do Your Research:

    It is important that you thoroughly research the organization you intend to apply to. Find out about the position and compensation range.

    Knowledge of the industry average for salary will not be out of place. This way, you are not overshooting your expectations or underprice yourself which undermines your competence.

    Research what the job you’re applying for pays in tandem with your skill and work experience to make sure your expectations are on target.

    1. Decide On The Minimum Salary You Are Fine With:

    Decide on the minimum salary offer you can accept; one that would cater conveniently for your expenses and creates some allowance for savings.

    There is no point accepting an offer that will impoverish you, bearing in mind your family, social and economic commitments.

    1. Avoid Salary Questions In The Early Stage Of The Interview:

    Negotiations are sometimes very difficult processes especially when you (as a job seeker) know you really need the job. This is where creativity and tact comes in handy.

    Try to avoid this kind of talk until there is a solid offer on the table. However, if you are asked before you have such tangible offer, then be careful not to give a direct answer. It is always better to return the question to the interviewer.

    You can say: “I will like to know more about the position and its sundry responsibilities before I consider a salary fit for it. What are your expectations for this job?”

    1. Avoid Giving Your Present Or Former Salary:

    It is in your best interest if the interviewer reveals the salary package to you, instead of being cocooned and boxed with the question of “what salary do you expect?”.

    However, if the reverse is the case, try as much as you can to be creative.

    1. Ask If There Are Other Compensation Benefits Alongside The Salary Offer:

    One of the biggest calamity that can befall a person would be working in a job you don’t like and receiving a take home package (salary) that can hardly take you home…you know what I mean? *winks*

    However, if you can’t get the salary you want, consider negotiating on the total compensation package. These benefits can include flexible work hours, vacation, training, health, education, transportation, etc.

    1. Be confident:

    Being timid and overly humble about the value you can bring into the organization will be committing an hara-kiri (suicide). Confidence is not arrogance. It is a reflection of your emotion and intellectual competence.

    A confident candidate with average experience and skills has more chances of being employed than a timid and docile, but highly competent person with experience.

    Hope this helps.

    By Moses Emorinken

    You can contact @memorinken ( Moses Emorinken  ) on twitter and Instagram for  further questions and clarifications.

  • Compensation coming for property owners, says govt

    THE Lagos State Government will soon compensate those whose properties were destroyed   for the construction of the Pen Cinema Flyover, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development Abiola Anifowoshe said yesterday.

    Anifowoshe debunked  reports that the government was delaying compensation.

    He said when the bridge was completed, it would decongest traffic in the axis and enhance the socio-economic development of Agege and environs.

    Anifowoshe said the government had held a stakeholders’ meeting with the property owners and presented them with the details of the project.

    He said: “It was instructive that the stakeholders at the meeting welcomed the development and the  government secured their buy-in.

    “The government representatives at the meeting also urged the people to submit all relevant documents showing proof of ownership. Our officials served all the statutory notices and even gave more than enough time for the affected property owners to be aware of the removal.

    “Also, there were newspaper publications to that effect stating government’s intention and expectations from the people. As a matter of fact, many of such have been submitted to my office and the compensation process has commenced fully.”

    The commissioner said the government also  removed its staff buildings belonging to the Lagos State Development Property Corporation (LSDPC) to give way for the project.

    “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all residents in Agege that the  government will compensate everyone involved. The government understands their plight and is working tirelessly to ensure that those affected are compensated,” he said.

    Anifowoshe urged the affected property owners who are yet to produce their planning documents such as Certified Registered Title Document of Properties within the said Right of Way, Approved Building Plan Permit for the affected structures and any other relevant documents as proof of ownership, to do so without delay.

    “We like to urge them to submit their documents to the Office of the  Commissioner, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Block 15, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, so as to ensure that all affected owners are compensated appropriately.

     

  • Fuel Crisis: ‘Buhari’s apologies not enough compensation’

    Fuel Crisis: ‘Buhari’s apologies not enough compensation’

    A retired professor of philosophy, Moses Akin Makinde, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s apology over the lingering fuel scarcity was not enough.

    According to him, Nigerians have never had it so bad since Independence.

    He said despite the media informing the nation of a pending fuel crisis about three weeks ago, the Federal Government and the Minister of State for Petroleum behaved as if nothing was at stake.

    “Call it a lack of foresight,” Makinde said in a statement issued yesterday.

    It added: “The government exhibited a frightening incompetence by not being proactive to deal with the serious fuel scarcity that erupted and sent the entire nation into a state of agony and anger when it happened that the government suddenly found itself completely incapable and totally helpless in dealing with the scarcity of petrol that shattered people’s hopes and anticipated universal joy and merriment that usually accompany Yuletide that comes only once in a year all over the world.

    “There is no country in the world, whether in America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East or the rest of Africa that sent their citizens into a state of anguish, desperation, anger, bitterness and everything that was bad against humanity, like Nigeria where wickedness, evil, sins and ungodly acts reign supreme. In fact, as I once wrote, “evil triumphs in Nigeria!.” And, in Nigeria, misfortune never comes single.

    “It was good enough that this year’s Christmas fall on a long weekend whereby many Christians all over the country would have made preparations since January, 2017 to spend the long holiday at this years Christmas in their various towns and villages.  The few who do not travel would remain in their stations hoping to spend quality times with their families and visit their friends, which is typical at Christmas – the season of joy.

    “But for Nigerians, from 23rd to Christmas eve on December 24th through Christmas day and boxing day, 26th December, 2017, traumatized Nigerians spent their holidays at the petrol stations.  Many actually slept at the petrol stations during the festive period.

    “Surely, the whole world would sympathize but laugh at Nigeria at the incompetence of its leaders in dealing with a minor issue like availability of fuel, not to talk of fuel crisis, at Christmas, the period of joy and merriment which other nations take for granted.  Why are good acts, good things, joy and happiness difficult to be found in Nigeria? Those who say that Nigeria is a cursed nation are damn right.

    “Apart from this, those who are creating problems and untold hardships in Nigeria are cursed on a daily basis, and remain cursed by millions of angry Nigerians in a fell-swoop.  The curses may not be reversible even by atonement.  This is because the wicked cannot go unpunished.  The punishment from God and several curses by traumatized Nigerians will surely come on the wicked people if not today but tomorrow. Mark my words!

    “The issue of fuel crisis was compounded by non-payment of salaries, pensions and arrears by governments well before Christmas to allow for early shopping.  Out of extreme wickedness, some workers were paid only half of salaries for December and some none at all until very late.

    “Like fuel crisis, the payment of salaries to some people only on Friday, the last working and banking day before Christmas, forced people to rely on ATM to source for money for whatever was left of Christmas preparations. Newspaper reports showed that there was pandemonium in the banks as the crowd of people trying to get money through the ATM, which was the last chance to get limited amount for Christmas, was frightening.

    “To make things worse, there was not enough money in the ATM machines so that many people who had waited on the lines for several hours went home empty-handed!  The scenarios therefore became those of no fuel, no money, no electricity and no fuel to power generators in lieu of electricity.

    “Surely, 2017 Christmas was a black and bleak one, one of the worst experienced in Nigeria since independence. Some people have also wondered why fuel crisis usually rears its ugly head at Christian religious festivals and not during other religious festivals.

    “The Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, was right when he described the fuel scarcity as shameful. But he should have realized that his statement, by itself, was shameful, just as Mr. President’s apology was a shame. I am sure this year’s fuel crisis is a bad case that will linger in people’s minds till 2019 and beyond.

    “ Perhaps the Federal Government can atone for its sins of omission and commission by declaring January 1 & 2,  2018 (Monday and Tuesday respectively) as public holidays for the New Year celebration in order to compensate  Nigerians of all religions for spoiling their well-deserved  enjoyment of the long weekend which was badly battered at Christmas by the fuel crisis. But this compensation would be meaningless only if the fuel crisis does persist till Friday 29th and Saturday 30th December, 2017.

    “Those who are blessed should learn how to bless others while people should wish for others what they wish for themselves.  Sincerely, those who are enjoying while others are suffering should remember that there is God watching everybody.

    “One last line – could the President sleep while his citizens were suffering for lack of salaries and pension arrears as well as from problems of fuel crisis during this year’s Christmas?

    “If Mr. President did sleep, then he is very inconsistent with what he told the governors about non-payment of salaries and pension arrears from the bailout from the Paris Club.”

  • Ogun:‘We’ve paid N4b compensation’

    The Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite, has disclosed that since the inception of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration in 2011, the state has paid over N4 billion as compensation to owners of properties that gave the right of way for road construction across the state.

    He also said the state government has decided to fix in batches the failed-portions of the Lagos-Sango-Ota-Abeokuta Road awarded by the Federal Government to Julius Berger.

    In a statement issued by the Head of Media in the ministry,  Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso, the commissioner was quoted to have said the decision of the state government to fix the road was borne out of the fact that the suffering being experienced on the road by motorists and other road users has become embarrassing to the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration.

    Adegbite said his ministry had been mandated to fix permanently, the problem at the Toll-Gate axis of the road at Sango-Ota in the Ado-Odo Local Government Area of the state, adding that the road would be designed to accommodate drainages such that it would not be problematic anymore.

    He said: “The state government had overtime, continued to carry out palliative measures on that road and it has cost us so much money. So, His Excellency the governor has directed that we should evolve permanent solution that we can afford. Right now, we have got a mandate to fix the Toll-Gate permanently.  That is the only area we can attack for now because it is really embarrassing as we transit from Lagos to Ogun State.”

    Adegbite further stated that government had disbursed N500 million this year of the N800 million allocated in the 2017 budget, adding that the government would need an additional sum of about N3 billion to N4 billion to complete the payment.

    Emphasising that the state government was committed towards ensuring that all affected property owners were paid, Adegbite said that of N8 billon needed for compensation, property owners in the Sango-Ojodu area of the state would get the largest chunk of between N4 billion to N5 billion because modern buildings were demolished in the area to allow for right-of-way.

    The Chairman, Ogun State House of Assembly House Committee on Works and Infrastructure,  Olayiwola Ojodu, praised the commissioner and the ministry’s management team for a job well  done.  He noted that the ministry has justified the use of the money so far released to it in the year 2017 budget.

     

  • Compensation: Ogun pays communities N21 million

    Ogun State government has  paid N21 million to seven communities in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, whose land were acquired for agricultural purposes.

    Its Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo, who presented the cheques to the beneficiaries, said it was the first tranche of payment on the 200-hectare Cassava Demonstration Farm at Owowo.

    Adebajo said the government was mindful of its responsibilities and commitment to the people in order to continually get their support to boost agricultural production.

    “Key to agricultural development is support and cooperation from everyone, Ogun is peaceful and has fertile environment for agricultural practices. We assure you that communities whose lands were acquired will be fully compensated, “she said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Ambali Amosun, a representative  of Olowo Papa Community, thanked the government for fulfilling its promise, adding that they were in full support of its agricultural production programme.

    Other communities were Kuta,  Gbomolese, Ika Ogunolu, Olowo Ikija,  Kurere and Latoyo.

  • Bird flu: poultry farmers urge govt to hasten compensation

    Bird flu: poultry farmers urge govt to hasten compensation

    Bird Flu Affected Farmers Association has called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the payment of compensation to members, who were affected by the disease outbreak in 2015, 2016 and this year.

    As part of measures to re-launch production, poultry farmers demanded compensation from the government for losses incurred during the avian flu scourge in the country.

    According to the association, some farmers are waiting to access the government’s compensation for their birds destroyed, after they were found to be infected by avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu.

    In a statement by their representative, Oche David  Okpe, the association said, however,  that  some farmers in the 2015 batch have been compensated.

    The association added: ”Over 45 per cent of the 2015 affected farms and 2016 and 2017 are yet to be compensated,” stating that some of them have not been able to restock because their livelihood was completely shut down following  the disease.

    Early this year,  Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh assured poultry farmers of the Federal Government’s readiness to compensate those affected by the bird flu outbreak.

    He said although the computed amount was quite huge, the Federal Government was working out modalities on how to settle the farmers.

    “We have not compensated any farmer in the last one year because we have no money. The last compensation they were paid was a donation from the World Bank. I lost a lot of chickens, too.

    “We are trying to find money to pay them. So, it was a disaster. We can actually prevent Avian Flu in poultry through biosecurity measures in farms. Many farmers are very careless. Sometimes, the human being is a bigger transporter of diseases into the poultry farm than chicken.

    ”Make sure people don’t walk into your farm anyhow, a farmer from another farm don’t enter your farms, the feed sacks you use are not reused. There was an outbreak in Kano about two months ago, but it has been contained. So, somehow, we are limiting the outbreak of the disease. We have to find money to pay those who lost chickens but the sums are huge,”he said.

    He continued: “If we have to pay for all the chickens, we may be talking of something in the neighbourhood of six or seven billion (naira) in many states, especially around Kano and Kaduna. People were moving chickens all over the place without checking and some of the hatcheries are very dirty, so, other diseases have to come in.”