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Tag: compensation

  • Lagos pays N8b compensation to land owners

    Lagos pays N8b compensation to land owners

    THE Lagos State government has paid N8 billion as compensation to individuals and groups whose property had been affected by capital projects in the last one year.

    The Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Urban Development, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule, broke the news at a seminar on: Urban Thinkers’ Campus: The City We Need.

    The governor’s aide said the government would not evict people without considering their welfare.

    She added that compensation was paid promptly by the government on any land it acquired for public interest with the presentation of necessary documents.

    According to her, the beneficiaries include those affected by the Abule-Egba link bridge, Oko Baba Sawmill relocation, Isale Igangan regeneration project, Olorunsogo Market, Mosafejo community and the Epe Phase I road expansion.

    Mrs Onabule said the government would consistently advocate for land titles while the residents should obtain the governor’s consent on subsequent transactions, regularise and register their titles.

    She said: “You do not want to own a dead capital. The uncertainty of ownership decreases the value of the asset and/or the ability to lend or borrow against it.”

    Stressing the need to have liveable city, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, said the government was delighted to have be chosen as one of the 74 Urban Thinkers Campuses worldwide.

  • Communities get compensation as Lagos acquires 500 hectares for farm estate

    The Lagos State Government has paid five communities in Eluju-Mowo on Itoikin-Epe Road compensation for acquiring 500 hectares of their land for the Farm Estate Initiative.

    The Special Adviser on Food Security to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Ganiyu Sanni, made this known at the Ministry of Agriculture, Ikeja, while presenting cheques to representatives of the affected communities.

    He said the payment was in fulfilment of the promise of the government’s promise to the residents.

    According to him, the action was subsequent to the effort of the government to address various challenges facing agriculture in the state and promote the use of agricultural land for its intended purposes

    Sanni added that the effort was geared towards boosting food security, explaining that land in these communities would be allocated to farmers after the payment of crop compensation.

    He revealed that the government was interested in commercialising agriculture, adding that a drastic move from subsistent farming to a high mechanised farming was underway.

    Urging members of the compensated communities to continue to cooperate and carry their people along, he said their cooperation was key to the development of their communities.

    Sanni noted that farming on the acquired land would be done with modern implements to boost output, adding that the government recently inaugurated its Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centre to complement the state-owned functional agricultural implement unit.

    He said: “The Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centre is targeted towards providing mechanised tools at a reduced rate to farmers, the initiative has been set to reduce drudgery in agriculture; increase farm land under cultivation; promote competition and enhance the value of money for farmers.”

    Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry Agriculture, Dr.Olayiwole Onasanya said the administration would remain committed to ensuring the state becomes food secured.

    He added that government has demonstrated its all-inclusive system by involving members of the various communities, appreciating them for the support they have shown so far.

  • Ajimobi assures property owners of compensation

    Ajimobi assures property owners of compensation

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has assured residents, whose property will be demolished as a result of road construction and expansion across the state, that they will be adequately compensated.
    The governor gave the assurance yesterday in Ibadan, in an address to traders and residents on Beere, Orita-Merin, Agbeni-Ogunpa Road, which he said would be expanded to ease perennial traffic congestion in the area.
    The latest project is in addition to the ongoing dualisation of Idi-Ape-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Road; dualisation of Agodi-Gate-Old Ife-Adegbayi Road, with spur to Alakia-Ibadan Airport; as well as dualisation of Saki township road, in Oke Ogun.
    The government had also recently approved the reconstruction of 10-km Eleyele-Akufo; rehabilitation of Akufo junction-Eruwa Road; and expansion of Oke-Adu-Agodi-Gate-Idi-Ape- Iwo Road interchange.
    These projects are being financed through the Federal Government’s infrastructure development loan, internally-generated revenue sources and contractor funding.
    Ajimobi said: “We must consider the interest of the majority who will benefit from the project. I can only appeal to our people to consider the loss of their property as a sacrifice. But, I want to say again that they will be compensated.
    “Count the number of people that will gain from this project as skilled and unskilled workers, much less of road users who will have smooth passage after the road has been completed.”

  • Ebonyi flooded communities demand compensation

    The three communities in Ebonyi and Enugu states donated land for the siting of a dam. Seven years after, their compensation was yet to be paid. Worse, as they allege, their communities were flooded last year. There was no help from anywhere. That was why they protested to the Federal Government, which acquired their land for the dam project.

    The communities are Ishiagu in Ivo Local government area of Ebonyi state, Ukey and Okpanku both in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    The communities said that they have been suffering following the loss of their farmlands to the federal government which is their only source of livelihood.

    According to them, the construction of the dam also worsened their already precarious situation as the dam caused artificial flooding of their communities and farmlands last year which destroyed their crops and other properties worth millions of naira.

    They spoke when the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu Kazaure paid an inspection visit to the dam site.

    The multi-purpose dam is being built over the Ivo River for irrigation, water supply and power generation purposes.

    In a welcome address by Ukey Autonomous community presented by Nwagbara Patrick, the community said they were in support of the construction of the dam but called for adequate compensation to people who lost crops, land and other properties.

    He said, “It is imperative to bring to your notice that the enumerated crops have not been paid for, we solicit for your intervention in this regard.

    “This land acquired by the federal government for this project is the commuities major source of livelihood and since it has been taken away, they have nothing to sustain themselves ahgain. We appeal to you to come to their aid by paying some amount to individuals or community monthly”.

    “The community is also using this platform to bring to your notice that many buildings along the road leading to the dam were destroyed without compensation. We therefore appeal to you to intervene on the matter”.

    “The community is requesting for a standard hospital due to the possible outbreak of different diseases as a result of sitting the dam”.

    Mr Uchenna Orji, who spoke on behalf of Ishiagu community called for adequate compensation for the people promising that the community will be peaceful in their agitation for their rights.

    While noting that the community was never consulted before the citing of the dam, Mr Orji also called for an environmental impact assessment to be carried out in the area before moving forward with the construction of the dam.

    Dr Julius Aja, President General of Okpanku Community Town Union said over 100,000 persons from his community was affected.

    He called for the construction of a bridge to enable the villagers access their farmlands which have been cut off by the artificial flooding caused the building of the dam.

    The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe said that over 10,000 hectares of farmlands in Ebonyi were submerged by the flooding with over 20,000 persons rendered homeless as a result of the flood.

    “Farming is the main stay of the people and these people were reduced to beggars due to the flooding and the risk is that the youths could turn to crime to make ends meet. So it becomes very necessary to as soon as possible compensate them for their losses”.

     

  • Fed Govt seeks compensation for Nigerians assaulted in South Africa

    Fed Govt seeks compensation for Nigerians assaulted in South Africa

    THE Federal Government has demanded compensation for Nigerians, whose properties were destroyed in weekend’s xenophobic violence in South Africa.

     Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said in Abuja that Nigerian lives should be protected.

     Nigerian buildings, businesses and places of worship worth millions of dollars were destroyed during the attacks in Pretoria West, South Africa on February 18.

     Onyeama, who said the Federal Government had taken some measures to put a stop to the incessant attacks on Nigerians in that country, expressed worry on the alleged involvement of security agency in the violence.

     ”We are doing a lot, we are engaging with the South African Government; we have summoned the South African High Commissioner Mr. Lulu Aaron-Mnguni to the ministry over the issue.

     ”One of the things that were being said was that South Africa Police are accomplice in some of the attacks, not just on Nigerians but other nationals.

     ”We have communicated our deep concern to the South African Government if that is the case on this allegation, steps should be taken to ensure that the situation does not happen again.’’

     According to him, Nigeria is also concerned about some inflammatory statements by South African politicians, which can incite violence.

    “This was brought to the attention of the South African Authority, and this has to stop.

     ”Security should be provided for Nigerians and that there has to be compensation for the victims.

     ”There are no lives lost, but there were injuries and damages, and we certainly expect that justice would be done; the perpetrators should also be brought to book,” he said.

     Onyeama said the South African Government itself did not condone the attacks and had been doing everything to ensure that its citizen understood the role Nigeria played during their apartheid struggles

    “The government of South Africa does not condone those actions, they have assured us that they are taking a number of measures to state again the friendship and brotherliness toward Nigeria.”

  • ‘Why employers should embrace compensation scheme’

    The commencement of the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) is influenced by the need to ensure that injured workers are not abandoned to their fate, its Acting Managing Director, Ismail Agaka, has said.

    He said safety at workplace was for employers and employees, saying employers thought it was for the benefit of the workers alone, hence their reluctance to enrol their workforce on the scheme.

    The NSITF boss stressed that it was erroneous for employers to think that the scheme was for the benefit of employees alone, saying that everybody is exposed to one form of occupational hazards or the other in the workplace.

    He argued that joining a scheme that promised treatment and rehabilitation of injured workers in the course of work was a huge incentive for higher productivity.

    “Joining this kind of scheme boosts the morale of the employees without shouting it. Boosting the morale of employees is more than just increasing the salaries and allowances,” he said.

    The NSITF boss also pointed out that higher productivity in the workplace always showed in the bottom-line of organisations.

    His words: “Higher bottom-line means more money coming into the company. It will also lead to better industrial climate in the workplace. A harmonious industrial relation in the country would lead to national cohesion.

    “The burden of care is transferred to the NSITF for an employer should there be any workplace accident, injury, disability or occupational disease. The scheme helps employers overcome unanticipated expenditure, especially if such comes when the organisation is not financially strong enough for such expenses.

    “How do organisations address this kind of development during cash flow challenge? Such development could lead to employees seeing their employers as wicked and uncaring, regardless of challenges such employer may be going through.”

    On the benefits of the scheme, Agaka said compensation also applied to victims of plane crashes who lose their lives in the course of work.

    ”First, if the employer of such a victim of plane crash was registered, the survivor of such a person would be compensated.

    “Secondly, the journey must be in the course of carrying out official duty. If it is confirm that it was an official trip in the course of work, then the next of kin or the dependent of the deceased employee is covered. Indeed, many such claims have been processed by the NSITF,” he said.

    Explaining that the NSITF did not operate hospitals where injured workers are treated, he said medical bills incurred by organisations on the treatment of injured workers would be settled and that NSITF would take over the treatment if it is long term.

  • Seven months after: Artistes still wait for compensation

    Seven months after: Artistes still wait for compensation

    It is seven months now since the Artistes’ Village at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, was demolished by the management of the National Theatre.  Edozie Udeze in this interaction with some of the affected artistes reveals that government is yet to fulfill its promises to the artistes.

    On January 23rd this year, the immediate past General Manager of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, Mallam Kabir Yusuf sent bulldozers and caterpillars to the Artistes’ Village located within the premises of the National Theatre.  Their mission was to demolish what he termed the shanties and illegal structures within the Artistes’ village.  In the process, a lot of art works and buildings were destroyed.  This was so because the action took place very early in the morning without adequate warning or space for the artistes to salvage their works and save their property.

    Seven months on, the affected artistes are still bemoaning their fate.  They are still waiting to be compensated.  When the demolition took place, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed paid an official visit to the place.  He promised to pay compensation to the affected artistes on or before the end of this month (August).  As at press time, the promises had not been fulfilled and the artistes were not happy.  Even though they were hopeful that something would still be given to them to start their professional lives anew, they were not satisfied with the level of arrangement on the part of government.

    One of those most affected is Monday Guobadia.  In an interview with The Nation, he said, “I was given this place on rent to be doing my creative work by the National Council for Arts and Culture, a parastatal of the federal government of Nigeria.  I am a sculptor and I have been here for seven years.  Then, suddenly one morning Kabir sent bulldozers with heavily armed police officers to level down my gallery and other structures within this premises”.

    Recounting his ordeal in the hands of security officers detailed to supervise the demolition, he said, “It was awful.  They didn’t even allow me or some other artistes to salvage our works.  Before I could be contacted, a lot of damage had already been done to my workshop and gallery.  Works worth millions of naira were destroyed.  That place was a swamp when it was given to me.  I used my money to sand fill it and made it habitable.  Then one day one man came here and said it was an illegal structure.”

    Almost talking to a point of tears, he went on, “when I did it to suit my taste, I started producing arts there.  Even though I was able to rescue some of the works, I lost the most valuable of my sculptures done over many years ago.  Now the Minister said he would compensate us.  When he came here, he wasn’t happy to see how the structures were destroyed.  On the long run, he promised to give us N20 million, even though what we calculated was more than that.  But we have agreed to accept the money; at least to have something to start life all over again.”

    Now, living almost on charity and what some of his friends contribute to help him, Guobadia is idle.  He has nowhere else to ply his trade; no workshop to engage in his creative venture.  “I only try to do one or two things to survive and friends to help me too.  But for how long?  The minister said, they would turn this place into a global artiste village.  But as you can see now, there is no sign to that effect.  I don’t even know if we still have a government in this country”, he mused, robbing his chin agonizingly.

    Guobadia, however, admitted that the minister had sent a message to reassure them, yet there are no significant signs to fulfill the promises before the end of the month.  “This is the seventh month.  We are still waiting.  There’s nothing a poor man can do.  I can’t fight government.  Who am I?  All these happened just because they put a man who did not understand or value the art as the G.M of the Theatre.  I hope they’ll not replace him with another G. M who doesn’t appreciate our creativity,” he pleaded.

    As the artistes await the intervention of the minister to carry on with their trade, their spokesman, Tope Babayemi told The Nation that the promises would still come to pass.  Even though he reiterated that August is the deadline given by the government, he was of the strong believe that it would still materialize.  He said: “Government is going to pay us compensation.  No doubt about it.  There are different levels of discussion according to the letter sent to us by government.  First is the temporary relocation of those affected by the demolition.  Then after that the place will be rebuilt.  First step is the compensation.  Government has written us and made an offer.  So what we are waiting for now is that process to commence.  And I have been assured that before the end of this month, the minister will find time to do that.  I mean to meet with us to pay the compensation.”

    It is believed that the process will be transparent and that the media would be invited to witness it.  Babayemi explained further: “Now when you are talking about art works, it is impossible to value that in terms of monetary value.  Art works are inestimable.  What were destroyed were many and much.  How do you value the visual arts, the galleries, the costumes, the dance materials and lots more?  These are not quantifiable.  Even then we are dealing with a minister who has shown more responsiveness to the arts than before.  We have decided therefore to accept the compensation.  It is a token, yes, we know.  It is to support those who have lost their means of livelihood.”

    Then when the time comes the place would be rebuilt to meet international standards and those affected will get their shops back.  As an Artistes’ Village that is befitting to a country, the shanties will no longer be tolerated so as to preserve the sanctity of the environment.  Babayemi said more; “during his last visit, the minister made a comprehensive tour of this premises.  So we believe him, we hope it will happen.  So by the time you add the compensation to the rebuilding of the place, you have a significant amount being expended by the government.  So, I would not like to dwell so much on the compensation because other juicy things will follow.”

    “What will happen here, in all intents and purposes, is a plus for the arts.  The work we are doing here will equally benefit more from the changes we envisage.  For now, I have been keeping my colleagues in check, hoping the best will happen.  They have said severally that they would go back to the trenches.  But I have told them to hold on.  That government has till the end of this month to do their bit,” he said.

    But the artistes have not been temporarily relocated seven months after.  This is one of the reasons why some of them do not as yet trust the sincerity of the promises made.  “When you get to the point of conflict,” Babayemi interfaced, “the process of negotiation takes time and has to be meticulously done.  The fact that we are artistes does not mean we are unintelligent people.  No.  The processes of government take a little time to materialize.  That we know and we have to wait.  Look at the budget, it affected us.  By the time the minister came and made these promises even the budget had not been approved at that time.  We must not allow the suffering to affect our patience.  Yes, Nigerians are suffering.  We must not allow that to rob off on the mobility of our trade.  We are noble people, a thinking people.  That’s why I keep telling them it’s not time yet to go back to the trenches.”

    As it is, it is hoped that the artistes will not continue to be disenfranchised as they contribute their quota to the economy and make money to keep life afloat.  End of the month is here and it is time to redeem these promises and keep the art sector on a sounder footing.

  • Lassa fever: Doctors seek compensation for deceased members

    Lassa fever: Doctors seek compensation for deceased members

    Following the outbreak of Lassa fever in the country that claimed the lives of two of its members, the National Association of Resident Doctors has appealed to Federal Government to compensate the family members of the deceased doctors and other health providers who lost their lives to the deadly disease.

    The dead resident doctors are Dr Living Jamala and Dr Charles Bamidele in Rivers and Osun State respectively.

    Speaking on various issues through an eighteen points resolution contained in a communique, issued at the end of a week-long council meeting held at University College Hospital, Ibadan, the National President of NARD, Dr Muhammad Askira aid as a result of the casualties recorded by the doctors and Health workers, implored government to revisit and review the hazard allowance.

    He noted that this is necessary because the paltry N5, 000 hazard allowance for healthcare providers is grossly inadequate.

    “Government at all levels must enhance the capacity of our healthcare institutions with adequate facilities for containment of any form of disease epidemics. This is because Nigeria has the capacity to put in place adequate measures for prevention, diagnosis and management of almost all tropical illness. “He said

    While attributing the lassa fever scourge to the dilapidating condition of both the primary and secondary levels of health care, Askira noted that the universal applicability in terms of policy guide on issues bordering on clinical governance and remuneration is yet to be attained in all the three levels of care through the three tiers of government.

    He further urged the government to revamp the primary and secondary levels of health care as a measure that will ensure universal health coverage in all dimensions and equitable access to quality healthcare by all Nigerians‎.

    The NARD boss enjoined the federal government to accelerate implementation of the National Health Act without further delay, saying that will not only positively impact on the lives of Nigerians but also improve healthcare legislation and effective quality service delivery in the country.

    He also implored the FG and the National Assembly to promptly intervene in the industrial dispute between her members and the State of Osun government, so as to expeditiously resolve the crises before it escalates into national disharmony.

  • ‘Employers, workers join employees compensation scheme

    ‘Employers, workers join employees compensation scheme

    The Managing Director Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Umar Munir Abubakar has said about 33,900 employers and seven million employees have so far joined the Employees Compensation Scheme.

    Abubakar made this known at the NSITF-Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) Safe Workplace Intervention Project (SWIP) in Port Harcourt, the River State capital.

    He explained that the increment of employers on the scheme is because employers see  the scheme as a move by government to promote safety in the workplace and ensure that injured workers are not only treated but are rehabilitated.

    “This scheme does not only ensure the safety of workers but also promote efficiency and enhance productivity because workers now know that they can work without inhibition because they would be looked after in case of injury or death,’’ he said.

    Abubakar warned that any employer that fails to enrol its workers on the scheme would soon face prosecution.

    He said: “The legal department of the NSITF has been given marching order to prosecute every non-compliant employer. We will soon drag these recalcitrant employers to court for prosecution. We will ensure that every employer that has not will now pay from July 2011 to date because this payment is a product of the law and those who flout the law must be made to face the full wrath of the law. We have given enough grace to employers; we have cajoled them and explained why their employees must be covered under the Employees Compensation Scheme Act.”

    The NSITF boss also enjoined state governments to enrol their employees on the scheme and that it had been showing a good example by paying for its employees on the scheme.

    He said the fund was trying to revive artificial body parts manufacturing centres in Lagos and Enugu.

    “Our intention is to run these centres for about six months before implementing others. Our intention is to establish each centre in the six-geopolitical zones of the country. This is a provision that is contained in the Employees Compensation Act,” Abubakar said.

    The NSITF helmsman also said it had perfected plans to develop a checklist of requirements for claims to reduce the amount of time injured employees spend to process entitlements.

    NECA Director-General, Mr. Segun Oshinowo, called for the involvement of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in the audit of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards in workplace premises.

    He urged companies to place emphasises on occupational safety in their various work environment, saying: “There is no enough money that can be paid to an employee for a lost eye or a lost finger. So, for us in NECA, the focus must always be to ensure that the workplace is safe for every employee.”

  • NIPF approves compensation for 580 investors

    The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the National Investor Protection Fund (NIPF) has concluded the screening and verification of the first batch of beneficiaries under the N5 billion fund.

    The claims of 580 investors, who were allegedly swindled by a capital market firm, Mega Asset Managers Limited, were verified and recommended for payment.

    Mega Asset Managers Limited was indicted for alleged fraudulent conversion of clients’ funds, among other violations, which falls within the purview of the NIPF.

    The rules of the NIPF stipulates that beneficiaries would include investors who suffer pecuniary loss due to the insolvency, bankruptcy or negligence of a capital market operator and defalcation committed by a capital market operator or any of its directors, officers, employees or representatives in relation to securities, money or any property entrusted to, or received or deemed received by the capital market operator in the course of its business as a capital market.

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which hosts the secretariat of the NIPF, at the weekend, confirmed that the verification committee of the NIPF had concluded a rigorous verification of investors’ claims against Mega Asset Managers Limited and recommended the approval of appropriate compensation to the affected investors.

    The NIPF’s board, last week, approved the report of the verification committee and granted the payment of compensations to 580 investors.

    The investors are expected to provide the NIPF with their proof of identification, account details and Bank Verification Number (BVN) before December 23 for further processing of the payment.

    Under the NIPF, the maximum amount payable to an investor who has suffered loss shall be N200,000 or its equivalent in the form of shares and units of bonds. But where the amount of loss is lesser, the investor shall be paid the calculated amount of loss. The maximum amount claimable under the NIPF is 50 per cent of the N400,000 limit stipulated by the IPF of the NSE.

    The Nation had exclusively reported, two weeks ago, that a team of capital market experts from the SEC had begun verification of claims by the first set of prospective beneficiaries.

    A source in the know had told our correspondent that the verification team, which started work on the claims in the first week of December, was expected to conclude screening and verification of the first set of beneficiaries from the N5 billion fund within the next three weeks.

    The Nation also reported that payments of compensation to the first set of beneficiaries could be made in late December or early January, according to the source.