The Nation Newspaper

Tag: office

  • His first day in office

    His first day in office

    Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has kicked off governance of the Sunshine State. Few hours after he was sworn-in, he announced his first appointments. Those appointed were Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, as his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Smart Omodunbi Jnr as Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters, Mr. Abire Sunday Olugbenga, Special Assistant, New Media, Miss Motunrayo Oyedele, Special Assistant (Photography) and Dr. Temitayo Iperepolu Special Assistant (Domestic and Government House.

     There are likelihood of Governor Aiyedatiwa dissolving the cabinet or making some reshuffle for the purpose of bringing in people he could trust. Some loyalists of Akeredolu have tendered their resignation letters and many more are expected to resign in the days to come.

     The streets of Akure and environs were calm on Thursday unlike Wednesday when supporters of Aiyedatiwa hit the street to celebrate his emergence as Governor.

     In Owo, hometown of Governor Akeredolu, there were fears among residents that the numerous road projects under construction might be abandoned.

      “Na who go complete these roads for Owo? The man scatter roads everywhere”, an okada riders said when questioned about Akeredolu’s demise.

     Another resident who gave his name as Solomon said they were saddened that Akeredolu did not complete his second term as Adekunle Ajasin who also hails from Owo.

    Read Also: Shettima inaugurates Kano Governor’s office complex

     There were beehive of activities at the Governor’s office as several persons were seen going in and out unlike in the past few days.

     Governor Aiyedatiwa has promised to sustain legacies of his late boss. He also promised to give priority to welfare of the people.

      Coordinator Human Right Foundation-West, Barr. Yunusa Aliyu said the inaugural speech was comprehensive and aptly captured the unfortunate situation in the State.

     “He recognized the fact that this is not a season of merriment, but a moment of sober reflection for the entire members of the state.

    “His Excellency also alluded to the fact that that the Late Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN had lived a life worthy of emulation. He described the Late Governor as a courageous man who always stand firmly for the truth even against himself.

    “Aiyedatiwa recounts the positive legacies laid down by Late Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN. He promised to continue on the legacies and build on same. It is my prayer that Allah grant the new governor the wisdom to pilot the affairs of the state.”

  • ‘Office is now my first home’

    ‘Office is now my first home’

    People across various fields of human endeavours in Oyo State have described the current economic situation in the country in various ways.

    A common denominator for the individuals interviewed by The Nation indicates untold hardship.

    However, while some said they have deviced cost-cutting measures, others said the situation had forced them to seek alternative means to augment their income.

    Mr Aanuoluwapọ Fasọyin a broadcaster said he has turned his office place to first home as a way of saving cost on transportation.

    Read Also: Military officers found culpable in Kaduna attack will be punished, CDS vows

    He said: “Though, it has not been easy, but we thank God for the adaptation level He implanted in Nigerians.  We have been coping and will continue to cope even if it gets worse than it is presently.

    “As for me, I have turned my place of work to first home, I barely go home; sometimes I go on foot rather than getting conveyance for trekkable distance.”

    Another civil servant, Omotolani Suleiman, lamented the situation which has compelled her to be living from hand to mouth.

    Her words:” have been collecting the same salary for years and the cost of items increase almost hourly now. Even the cost of basic items such as house rent, transportation, foodstuffs have not been as static as the salary. My situation is beat described as living from hand to mouth with huge loan upon loans to ensure survival.”

  • Suspected thugs attack Ogun deputy speaker’s office

    Armed men suspected to be political thugs yesterday attacked the campaign office of Ogun State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Kunle Oluomo at Ifo.

    Also, suspected thugs defaced the walls of the perimeter fence of the Ibara home of former Governor Segun Osoba was defaced with insulting graffiti.

    It was the second time such graffiti was written on the home of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in the last four years.

    In a statement, Oluomo said: “Over 100 hoodlums stormed my constituency office this afternoon (yesterday), wounded party members who were with me and destroyed my office and my free school buses.

    “They are still milling around my office and the town as I speak, saying ‘let Oluomo come out now and we will teach him a lesson about how not to disobey Oga on consensus’.”

    The lawmaker representing Ifo Constituency I added that he was rescued by armed policemen from Sango-Ota Area Command and taken to their station for protection.

    The attack came barely eight hours after sporadic gunshots rang out repeatedly in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, venue of a meeting between Muhammad Indabawa-led Electoral Committee and the governorship aspirants of the APC in the state.

    The incident forced many, including reporters, to scamper for safety.

    The gunshots, which began late Monday night, spilled into the early hours of yesterday when armed thugs suspected to be supporters of two major contenders to the APC governorship ticket battled each other.

    The eight-man Electoral Committee hurriedly called off the meeting with the aspirants and other stakeholders.

    The governorship primary of the APC earlier scheduled to hold in the 236 wards across the state have been severally postponements due to logistics reasons.

    But the committee members, who arrived the state at 7:45 p.m on Monday for a meeting with the aspirants, could not start it until about 10.30 p.m.

    The meeting ended abruptly barely 85 minutes later, following security breaches at the venue.

    Six persons – Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade (Ogun West), Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Otunba Bimbo Ashiru (Ogun East), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun East), Jimi Lawal (Ogun East) and Abayomi Hunye (Ogun West) – are battling for the APC governorship ticket. And they reportedly attended the meeting.

  • Benue first class chiefs get staff of office

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday presented staffs of office to 10 first class chiefs at the IBB Square, Makurdi.

    He urged the chiefs to promote public confidence, integrity and impartiality of the traditional institution.

    The governor warned them against improper social relationships that could lead to impropriety and/or cast doubt on the institution’s ability to be impartial, or bring disrespect to the institution.

    Ortom, who advised them to respect the two paramount rulers, said the State Executive Council approved the upward review of their remuneration.

    The Tor Tiv and Chairman, Benue State Traditional Council, Prof. James Ayatse, said the traditional institution would continue to ensure fairness, equity and justice to all.

    According to him, Ortom has made history by strengthening the traditional institution.

  • Zuma zoomed out of office

    Zuma zoomed out of office

    Jacob Zuma, no thanks to his grave personal peccadilloes, has been zoomed out of office, as South African president.  But new President Cyril Ramaphosa would do well to study what befell his predecessors, aside from the angelic Nelson Mandela, the revered Madiba.

    The Yoruba, in ancient wisdom, call it the  cane, used to tan the older wife, is waiting, patiently in the rafters, for the swollen headed new wife, present darling of all.

    The Igbo?  Well, a mixture of old and new.  In the early years of this 4th Republic, when the Igbo political elite were fiercely sliding and tackling themselves for the Senate President’s job, out rang the fresh warning for every current — and temporary — occupier of the seat: beware of the banana peel!  That slippery, treacherous peel was the grave of many a Senate president of Igbo extraction!

    So it is, it would appear, with Mandela’s country.  Aside from the Madiba, none of his successors had  managed to complete his full presidential terms.  But maybe that was because the Madiba did only one term, before quitting as soul of the nation, then transiting from a ruinous apartheid enclave into multi-party democracy.  Wisdom!

    Even then, the case of Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma bears retelling.  The one was so politically antiseptic that he scorned politics with a vengeance; but loved policy with with a passion.  The other was the exact opposite: he was more at home with the rambunctiousness of the street, than the clinical cold of the policy chamber.

    Of course, with the street political hustle, and the lionization and demonization that come with it, he just hit the London Economist’s cynical portraiture — the African Big Man, to whom the delicate business of legal checks and balances mean absolutely nothing.

    That was the Zuma Achilles heels, which nevertheless not only undermined the new institutional gains of South Africa’s multiparty democracy but also jarred on the African National Congress, ANC’s corporate and organizational integrity.

    Mbeki and Zuma were, therefore, not unlike the political and governmental flotsam and jetsam that must be thrown in the roaring sea to save the mother vessel.  The crunchy question, though: when will Ramaphosa himself hit the Mbeki-Zuma point of no return, necessitating his own inevitable jettisoning, for the sake of the greater good?

    A piece of fatalism?  No.  Just the logical stretching of a grim trend.

    But the lesson therein for Nigeria is that the ANC at least has the capacity to rein in its political beneficiaries; and by so doing, sanitize and renew itself.

    That is the core problem with the Nigerian political party system, where people get elected but declare themselves lords and masters above the vehicle that brought them to power.  Yet there is, thus far, no room for independent candidates.  What conceit!  What hubris!

    But if it’s a consolation, the ANC is over 100 years.  No political party in Nigerian post-independence history has ever lived more than 18 years.

    Moral?  No quick fix to building robust institutions.  Only patience and punishing work.

  • Firm inaugurates N100m office complex

    Pertinence Nigeria Limited, an indigenous firm with  interest in real estate business,has inaugurated its head office complex in Egbeda area of Lagos State.

    The two-storey edifice, worthover N100 million sits on about 600 square meters, while the office occupies about 300 square metres. The attached hall and auditorium sit on the remaining  space.

    The architect, Mr. Abel Adejo, explained that the hall, if arranged in theatre view sitting, has the capacity for 600 people and for seminar or for about 350 people for wedding arrangement.

    On its first floor are the administration office, the server room and eight other office spaces; the second floor accommodates the executive directors’ offices, which has a lounge connecting the two offices; two bedrooms attached to it, and a 22-seater boardroom.

    Adejo told The Nation that in compliance with climate change and green building advocacy, the entire building has a large number of glass works. This, he explained, is to admit artificial lightening into the building.

    “If the whole building is fitted with bulbs there will be too much heat. It is part of the design to be green architecture in compliance with the changing world especially n the face of climate change,” Adejo said.

    Concerning acoustics, the architect said the hall is designed to eliminate echo- a feat achieved with the rug placement in certain parts of the hall, tile flooring and plaster of paris (POP) ceiling.

    The parking lot is designed to accommodate 60 vehicles, all parked without causing any blockage to each other.

    Its Executive Director, Mr. Sunday Olorunsheyi, said the inauguration  was significant given that the day marked five years of the company’s coming into existence. For him, it is a mark of God’s favour on the business, considering the very humble beginning it had.

    “We are five years old today and God has been faithful to us. When we look back, we know that it has been God. Today, we also celebrate integrity, because that is what has kept us in business and brought us thus far,” Olorunsheyi said.

    The second Executive Director, Mr. Wisdom Ezekiel, agreed. He explained that with integrity, they have been able to build the business, which he said, has now grown in leaps and bounds. For Ezekiel, the feat could not have been achieved with the customers, who trusted the firm with their money.

    “We want to specially thank our clients today for staying by us and believing in us. They are our strongest partners and our assets and we do not take them for granted. We also thank God for the loyal staff we have had all through,” Ezekiel said.

  • Maina didn’t show up in office

    The embattled former pension chief Abdulrsheed Maina did not resume to work yesterday at the Ministry of Interior.

    Workers in the ministry were seen in groups discussing the development but he failed to shopw up at work.

    Director of Press in the Ministry Willy Bassey told our correspondent that he did not know Maina and had not seen him.

    He said: “I was not around when this news broke. I wanted to find out from the Permanent Secretary but he did not show up in the office.

    “I do not know the man called Maina. As the Director of Press I don’t know him  and nobody has introduced him to me.”

  • NFC to open South East zonal office

    NFC to open South East zonal office

    As a way of strengthening its operations within the South East Geo-political Zone, the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has been allocated a six-room office accommodation by the Abia State government.

    Releasing the office accommodation to the NFC in Umuahia last Monday, Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Ifeanyi Agbai, said it was the desire of the state government to assist agencies of government with the potential to enhance fast development, while performing their statutory functions.

    “Today’s ceremony is a promise fulfilled and a dream achieved,” Agbai stated.

    The Permanent Secretary expressed Abia State government’s appreciation to the NFC for choosing to site the headquarters of its South East Zonal office in Umuahia and assured that other relevant agencies in the state will be mobilised to assist the NFC commence operations from its new Zonal Office.

    Managing Director of NFC, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, thanked the State for providing the office accommodation at a short notice.

    He said the zonal office will help to increase film activities within Abia and its contiguous States.

    He commended the vision of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to transform the State, adding that the NFC is a beneficiary of the benevolence of the government of Abia State.

    “We shall enhance the media capacity of the State, develop and sustain a robust partnership between Abia State and the NFC on broadcast and film production”, Maduekwe further stressed.

    He reiterated the desire of the film agency to drive the industry by upping its current contribution to the nations GDP from 1.5% to 5% within the shortest possible time.

    The new zonal office is located in the premises of the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia, in Umuahia.

  • ‘Attack on EFCC’s office is audacity of corruption’

    ‘Attack on EFCC’s office is audacity of corruption’

    The Nigeria Labour Congres (NLC) has described the recent attack by gun men on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC) Abuja office as an “audacity of corruption. The NLC, threfore, urged the commission and other related agencies to beef up security on their premises and personnel.

    It also charged the commission not ot succumb to intimidation, rather to do all necessary to secure the organisation.

    In a statement  signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, he noted that the organisation needed technical support to build its forensic capacity without which cases would be lost or drag on indefinitely in court, thus, exposing the personnel to danger.

    “We also find it necessary to call on the government to give the commission the requisite support, including the setting up of dedicated courts for speedy disposal of corruption cases,” he said.              Wabba said the recent attack the battleground from the court room to the streets, and should be condemned by all those who love the country.

    According to him, the attack was intended to deter operatives of the EFCC from carrying on to a logical conclusion their ongoing investigations/prosecutions.

    He said: “In light of an earlier attack during which an operative sustained injuries, this cannot be a lone incident. Indeed, we see it as the new phase of corruption fighting back.

    “While we are not insensitive to the manifest danger in this new phase of corruption fighting back, we urge the commission and its operatives not to succumb to these desperate tactics or intimidation.”

    Wabba stated that Labour had no doubt that the resort to violence showed that those behind the attack have come to their wits’ end.

    In a related development, the NLC has taken a swipe at the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof Itse Sagay, over his call to move workers minimum wage law from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list.

    Wabba stated this in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, after the launch of the congress’ annual Rain School Programme.

    Wabba said the PACAC chairman has neglected the work of the committee he has been saddled with but ventured  into an area that he has scanty knowledge about.

    The NLC boss accused Sagay of not delivering on the Committee’s Mandate of taming corruption in the country, urging him to focus on that assignment rather than making suggestions outside the purview of the committee.

    Wabba said that a country that pays its workers poorly can never reduce corruption to the barest minimum, stressing that even a layman knows that poorly paid workers would not be in a position to resist corrupt tendencies.

    He said that Nigerian workers would resist any attempt to move the Minimum Wage Law to the concurrent list because other nations’ minimum wage is a national issue in their constitutions.

  • Workers shut CAC office

    Workers shut CAC office

    The protest rocking the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has entered its third day with the worhers refusing to open the gate and doors for resumption of work.

    The workers say until the Commission meets the agreement on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by both parties, work will not resume.

    The Registrar General, Bello Mahmud told reporters that no salary is owed any worker, and no one can intimidate the management for not paying what is not approved by the government.

    He said: “The closure of the office has paralysed the activities of the Commission. On agreement signed with the union, the agreement contains some policy issues and this has to be cleared by the board.

    “Presently, the CAC does not have a board so the issue is left for the minister to deal with. The management has agreed with the minister on what area to touch.”