The Nation Newspaper

Tag: promotions

  • IGP sets up panel to probe payment for promotions

    IGP sets up panel to probe payment for promotions

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has set up a special panel to investigate the allegations made by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isah Hamma Misau.

    The Senator had alleged that police officers pay bribes for special promotions.

    The panel had, on the directive of the IGP, invited Senator Misau to provide more details that would assist them to conduct a very discreet investigation into his complaints and allegations and those of other aggrieved police officers.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood.

    The terms of reference of the panel, which has two weeks to submit its findings, include: “To investigate other complaints, petitions and grievances from police officers within the Force and from other members of the public on allegations of giving money for promotions, either special or otherwise ; and to determine the substance of the complaints, petitions and grievances from aggrieved police officers and members of the public on allegations of giving money for special promotions.

    Other terms are: to determine those who were involved; and to recommend appropriate judicial actions and other punishments.”

     As part of efforts to ensure a successful investigation, concerned police officers and members of the public are urged to use these phone numbers 08054904443, 08035896648, 08181895582 and email address: joyjudejoshuah@yahoo.com to submit their complaints and petitions.

  • INEC to clear backlog of promotions, says Jega

    •‘Commission’s reforms must be sustained’

    Independent National Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega has promised to clear accumulated promotions before his tenure ends this month.

    After serving out a five-year term, the INEC boss vowed not to continue in the post, even if he is offered a second term.

    Jega, who spoke yesterday in a statement issued by the commission in Abuja after a retreat for Administrative Secretaries and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), ruled out the prospect of any “automatic promotion”.

    The INEC chairman, in what seemed like a valedictory message, warned against reverting the gains of the commission.

    The idea of appointing returning officers outside the commission, he said, must be sustained against what was obtained in the past, where Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Electoral Officers (EOs) returned election results.

    Jega explained that the current process has brought about “remarkable improvement”, arguing that the stress on RECs and EOs during elections was too much to accommodate the additional task of announcing the outcome of elections.

    He said: “The strain is too much. They are not superhuman and they will make mistakes.”

    The INEC boss said states, which did not create or activate Registration Area Centres (RACs) during the last general elections, would be directed to account for their inability.

    He expressed delight that most of the returning officers appointed by the commission in the 2011 and 2015 general elections were above board.

    Jega added that the retreat made suggestions, which when implemented by the next commission, would remarkably improve the electoral process.

  • SSANU-LASU threatens to shut down varsity over members outstanding promotions

    SSANU-LASU threatens to shut down varsity over members outstanding promotions

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, Lagos State University (SSANU) Lagos State University chapter, has threatened to shut down the university if the management fails to resolve the lingering outstanding promotion of its members.

    The union, which is seeking promotion of its members for the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 sessions respectively, is alleging double standard by the Governing Council in its approach to the union’s ongoing strike action.

    The Nation gathered that discussions between SSANU-LASU and management have been rosy until ASUU-LASU suspended the strike on Monday, with SSANU now hinging its fate on the Council meeting, which was supposed to hold last week Tuesday. The Chairman, SSANU-LASU Comrade Saheed Oseni, had earlier told our reporter that the Council’s decision  would determinate the union’s next line of action. Prior to that, the members had been involved in skeletal services.

    However, the matter took a turn for the worse following the cancellation of the Council meeting. Our reporter gathered that neither the Vice Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa, nor the Registrar, Akin Lewis, attended the meeting. They were said to have sent representatives, a decision, which The Nation gathered further infuriated the Chairman of Council, Mr Olabode Augusto.

    With the development, SSANU-LASU called a congress where the Registrar,  who is also a SSANU member, reportedly addressed the gathering, saying Council could not address the issues because the Congress representatives of SSANU were not in attendance.

    Oseni said the union smelled a rat, adding that their members, whom the Registrar claimed were not in attendance, called him on phone to intimate him of the VC and Registrar’s absence.

    ”We felt bad and cheated,” Oseni said. Speaking further, he said: “We believe that if there are similar issues affecting every union on campus, all should be treated equally. If the Council attended to ASUU issues, then it behoves on them to attend to SSANU too. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

    “We suspect the Council is trying to use divide and rule tactics here. But we are giving them till Thursday next week to address our issues; otherwise we will shut down this university. It is going to be a full blown battle. Nobody should marginalize us, because we are as important as ASUU. We are also going to draw the attention of all stakeholders to our cause.”

    LASU PRO, Kayode Sutton, said: “It is true that some members of SSANU scored over 65 (benchmark for promotion) in the 2011/2012 promotional exercise; but Council looked into it and realised the university did not have enough vacancies to fill them in. Besides, Council observed it had no financial muscle to cater for them. So they have been advised to sit for the 2012/2013 exercise.

    “Unfortunately, many of the members did not sit for the exam based on advice from the union leadership, which claimed the 2011/12 promotion was yet to be treated. Those who went and passed have been promoted accordingly. Therefore, Council advised that those who did not make it should sit for the 2013/2014 promotional exercise. Nonetheless, we are urging SSSANU members to resume to work in the interest of all.”

  • Discounts, promotions spur sales in U.S. holiday season

    Sales during the 2013 U.S. holiday season grew from a year earlier as deep discounting and increased promotions encouraged consumers to buy more.

    Holiday sales between November 1 and December 24 rose 2.3 percent, compared with 0.7 percent a year earlier, according to data published in the MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse report.

    This sales growth was the highest in three years.

    “It was actually a Merry Christmas for retailers,” Sarah Quinlan, senior vice president at MasterCard Advisors, told Reuters, adding that jewelry was the best-performing category.

    SpendingPulse tracks customer spending on apparel, electronics, jewelry, luxury and home furniture & furnishings categories during the holiday season.

    Shares of J.C. Penney Inc closed up 2.5 percent, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc finished 0.5 percent higher and Target Corp rose 1.2 percent.

    Analysts have called the 2013 holiday season the most competitive since the recession in 2008, as many Americans battle stagnant wages, higher taxes and the impact from the government shutdown.

    Retailers have slashed prices and used other promotions to lure customers in a season that typically generates 30 percent of sales and 40 percent of profits.

    Even though the 2013 holiday season had six fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as bad weather that affected sales in some parts of the country, holiday sales were a clear improvement on 2012 numbers, Quinlan said.