The Nation Newspaper

Tag: professionals

  • Firm profiles top 100 development professionals

    In line with its pioneering role as the industry journal of development communication, Construction & Engineering Digest (CED) Magazine has concluded plans to unveil the top 100 development professionals and industry leaders as part of the journal’s celebration of Centenary Celebration of Nigeria’s nationhood on Friday, 14th, March 2014, at the Lagos Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos.

    In a statement issued by the journal’s publisher and Chief Executive of Century 21 Systems Communication Limited, Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson, he said that the over two decades publication has consistently reported development in the construction, engineering, infrastructure and the built environment while promoting cooperation among practitioners.

    On the criteria for nomination, he said this include innovation in business and practice model, inspirational leadership, connectivity, confidence, competence and connections, above all practitioners and organisations that have become great leaders by honing their skills and putting their network for others to become leaders.

    Guests expected at the event include Ministers of Mines and Steel Development and Works, Musa Mohammed Sada and Mike Onolememen, among others.

  • Professionals fault govts’ preference for expatriates

    President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Mr. Bala Ka’oje, has criticised governments at various levels for preferring expatriates to the local professionals, even when the required skills and competences are locally available.

    He said the trend could cripple nation-building, if it is allowed to continue.

    Ka’oje spoke in Lagos at the maiden public lecture/awards of the Lagos chapter of the association.

    Speakers at the event included the chairman of the occasion, Bashorun J. K. Randle; Lagos State Commissioner for Physical and Urban Planning, Mr. Toyin Ayinde; the guest lecturer, Mr. Uju Ogubunka, among others.

    Ka’oje said any nation that neglects its professionals cannot be competitive, adding that it would be difficult for such country to meet its developmental needs.

    He stressed that no foreign professional would like to develop another nation for local professionals.

    In his lecture, Ogunbunka, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), said each professional should contribute to nation-building with or without the next person.

  • Professionals urged to upgrade themselves

    The Principal of Peacock College United Kingdom, a London-based certificate and degree-awarding institution, Dr. Zenon Adamek, has warned professionals across all fields that they will lose their jobs or face business collapse if they do not update themselves regularly to cope with the ever-rising demands of the constantly-changing business environment.

    Adamek gave the warning in London while presenting the school’s 2014 professional academic programmes billed to commence in February.

    “Many have lost their jobs not necessarily because of the need to retrench but because such professionals have, over the years, failed to see the need to continually upgrade and update themselves to remain relevant and efficient in today’s business world,” he said.

    Adamek acknowledged the constraint of time, which discourages many working professionals from going for further studies. However, he said the college has designed e-versions of its professional and academic programmes to help such people balance their work with further knowledge pursuit.

    “Our finding is that one major reason why most professionals fail to pursue further education is their tight work schedule. They claim they work very hard, round the clock. But we have also found out that when decisions are to be taken on productivity, what saves a job is not necessarily hard work, but efficiency based on sound knowledge.

    “This is, therefore, why our academic programmes are designed in such a way that even those with very tight work schedules, who cannot participate directly at the college, can participate through online arrangements. All our programmes are available 100 per cent online,” he said.

    Some of the programmes include: Master’s top-up courses, corporate and management courses, professional academic courses in business and organisational strategy, travel and tourism, and information technology.

    The college’s founder and the chairman of the, Aare S.P. Phillips added “the college is a legacy. I encourage every Nigerian and everyone all over the world to find time to develop themselves in acquiring the latest academic knowledge needed in the 22nd century.”

     

  • Lagos Drivers Institute for only professionals

    Lagos State government has refuted the claim that all drivers operating in the state should attend the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI).

    A statement released by the Ministry of Transportation said: “Section 23 of the Lagos State Drivers Institute Law of 2007 made it mandatory for all professional drivers operating in the state, that is, those whose means of livelihood is driving either individual, private or corporate to undergo a re-training and re-certification exercise at the institute yearly and stipulates penalty for both drivers and employers who violate provision of the Law.

    “Since its establishment in 2007, the state government has been sensitising professional drivers to this important safety measure to curb the menace on our roads, reduce accident and loss of lives of innocent people who could contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the nation in general.

    “It will interest you to know that professional drivers with eye defects, drive without knowing of such eye problem. Through the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI) re-training and re-certification programme, such drivers are detected and appropriate medical examination and treatment are recommended.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the state government is ready to start enforcing the provisions of this Law and therefore urges all affected persons and corporate organisations to comply so as not to be guilty of contravention.”

  • Health professionals may begin strike tomorrow

    The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has threatened to ground the health sector, if appropriate authorities refuse to meet its demands before July 31.

    By tomorrow, Nigerians will know if the threat is empty or not.

    The group issued a communiqué in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in June.

    The union said its members would begin a nationwide strike, if its demands are not met by the end of a 21-day ultimatum, which will elapse tomorrow.

    Among the demands is that no university lecturer should be appointed as a Chief Medical Director (CMD) of any teaching hospital.

    NUAHP also said CMDs and Medical Directors (MDs) should not be advertised in the media because the actual contents of the governing law on tertiary hospitals would have been altered and wrongly interpreted.

    It added: “We disagree with the recently constituted Hospital Management Boards and asks for their immediate dissolution as it contravenes the provisions of decree 10 of 1985 now Act U15 LFN 2004.

    “The National Executive Council (NEC) calls for equitable representation of registered Unions and Assembly of Health Professional Associations on each Board of Management.”

    It also called for the abolition of the Office of Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee and Deputy Head of Clinical Services in some tertiary hospitals.

    NUAHP added: “We request the immediate promotion of qualified Deputy Directors who have stagnated to Directors in line with extant schemes of service and the circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Health in June 2012.

    “All union members are advised to apply for such vacancies wherever they exist provided they are qualified clinical health professionals such as: physiotherapists, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, dietitians and radiographers, among others.”

    The group said the Federal Ministry of Health should convene a stakeholder’s conference to agree on guidelines for appointing chief executives for tertiary health institutions and medical advisory committee in to prevent the act of multiple and wrong interpretations.

     

  • FRC restricts registration of professionals

    Members of Professional bodies without enabling law will not be registered by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Jim Osayande Obazee, has said.

    Obazee, who addressed reporters on some sundry issues in Lagos, last week, said the measure was adopted so as not to condone any acts of illegality.

    He said if the Council softened its stance and register professionals from such bodies without legal backing, their promoters would be unwilling to pursue and finalise their legal status with the National Assembly.

    He said: Professionals without enabling law will be denied FRC Registration Certificate, because if they are registered, they will be unwilling to pursue their registration,” adding that FRC is not willing to be part of those practising illegally.

    “We don’t want people to do things with impunity and we not being in a position to discipline them.

    “Since we commenced registration of professionals, we have noted that some professional bodies operate without enabling laws, while some have their request for legal backing at different stages at the National Assembly. We hereby advise them to ensure that they facilitate their bid for relevant legislation, as the council does not register professionals whose professional body does not have enabling law.”

    Obazee said the council is taking steps to ensure uniformity in the financial statements of Not-For Profit organisations.

    He said they differ from one type of institution to another, thus making comparison and accountability difficult.

    The FRC helmsman explained that some entities operating on “commercial lines, ‘within charity,’ are claiming exemption on their income on the ground that the totality of the outfits are charitable institutions,” but Obazee faulted the arguments, adding: “Such a claim, when made in respect of an activity carried out on commercial lines, is contrary to the intention of the provision and put the assets of the charitable purpose at significant risk.”

     

     

     

     

  • Jonathan unfair to health professionals

    Jonathan unfair to health professionals

    SIR: With the recent constitution of the governing boards of federal health institutions as reported in the media and the exclusion of other health professionals such as nurses, Medical laboratory scientists, Pharmacists, etc, on the boards, it is clear that the present administration has remained biased, ill-focused and not willing to change its style and tactics in handling the crisis rocking the health sector.

    It is very unfortunate that the president seem not to understand the intricacies/consequences involved in matters like this and allowing Prof Onyebuchi to be misleading him!

    This is not a military regime where things are done anyhow. How can you constitute a board without incorporating the different stakeholders in the health sector as members?

    It is clear that the President does not wish the health sector well. It will be recalled that the different health sector unions had earlier called for the removal of the health minister but this feel on the deaf ears of the president.

    In line with these developments, I think it is right time the various unions declare a total strike if they are serious in pursuing their legitimate rights. They constitute the majority in any health establishment and the majority will always carry the vote! The case in UCH is also an eye opener to the various illegalities being perpetrated. The president seems to be aiding and abetting in these crimes and illegalities. A total strike action by all concerned will be the best to address this nonsense! Things were not like this during ex-President Obasanjo period. It is therefore very necessary for all the unions to enlighten their members on who to vote for as the next presidential election approaches because politics sure has a role to play in the struggle. The president has disappointed health professionals in the country by his recent action and with the continued retention of Prof Onyebuchi as health minister.

    • Joshua A. Anunibe

    Ijegun, Lagos.

  • NDDC, professionals give free medical services in Ondo

    About 1,500 people in the coastal area of Ondo State yesterday benefited from the free medical services of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ilaje League of Professionals (ILP).

    The groups organised the free services separately.

    ILP Chairman Benson Obayelu and the Coordinator of NDDC’s free medical mission, Dr. Bode Obayelu, said the programmes were aimed at improving the people’s health.

    Speaking at Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government, after the programmes, they urged corporate organisations in the area to fulfill their responsibilities to their host communities.

    The NDDC team’s coordinator said the coastal areas contribute much to the economy and its people must be catered for.

    He said it took his team five days to move round the two councils in the area.

    The NDDC team’s coordinator said over 500 patients were operated on and 200 were treated for minor ailments.

    He said people from neighbouring councils of the Okitipupa and Irele also benefited from the exercise.

    The NDDC team’s coordinator praised the state’s representative on NDDC’s Governing Council, Mr. Dele Omogbemi, and workers in its state office for making the programme a success.

    ILP’s director said the group was created to champion the cause of the people as agents of positive change through life-impacting programmes.

    Benson, who is Bode’s elder brother and a former Director in NDDC, said 800 people benefited from the mission.

    He said ILP has taken over the NDDC’s water project at Igbokoda GRA.