The Nation Newspaper

Tag: publicity

  • We’re overwhelmed by rush to collect PVCs- INEC

    The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is overwhelmed by the current rush by eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) few days to the election.

    Mrs Ndidi Okafor, Head, Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society at the INEC office in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria  in Abuja on Friday.

    Okafor, therefore, appealed to prospective voters who were yet to collect their PVCs in the FCT to be patient with the commission as it is doing everything possible to distribute them before the deadline.

    NAN reports that INEC had set Feb. 8, as deadline for eligible voters to collect their PVCs.

    “We have been distributing PVCs in the six Area Councils and in all the 62 wards of the FCT for the past 20 months.

    “We had earlier appealed to residents to come and collect theirs to discourage the 11th-hour rush syndrome, but they did not come, now they are putting pressure on everybody.

    “One of our staff was injured and most of them cannot even take break to eat due to the pressure from the people, so we are working on seeking assistance of the police in all the collection centres to maintain order.

    “The Feb. 8, deadline is sacrosanct and there won’t be an extension that is why we have extended the collection time from between 9 a.m. and 3p.m. to between 9.am. and 4p.m. daily,’’ she said.

    Okafor appealed to residents to be orderly on the queues so they can collect their cards on time.

    Read Also: INEC seeks media’s support on voter education

    She said the commission would distribute PVCs on Saturday, Jan. 19 and Sunday, Jan. 20 to enable workers collect theirs.

    She said that complaints of those whose names were omitted had been noted and had been sent to the headquarters for redress.

    She said their PVCs would be produced for collection before the deadline.

    Okafor said the commission has two PVC hotlines- 08153162663 and 08188241666 that people can call for complain or enquiry.

  • El-Rufai, publicity and common sense

    El-Rufai, publicity and common sense

    FEW people can say exactly what drives Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai’s insatiable thirst for the limelight: plain desire for publicity, or his gaudy show of not tolerating fools gladly. Whatever it is, the enfant terrible of Kaduna politics is as irrepressible as they come, and always has something to say on everything, even if he ends up putting his foot in his mouth. Last Thursday was another opportunity for Mallam el-Rufai to serve his extravagant dish in the public, this time in Abuja during a ‘Governance Matters’ roundtable organized by the Development Alternative Incorporation (DAI) where, as usual, he talked nineteen to the dozen.

    Reports of his special offering last week were sketchy, but it was substantial enough to determine whether he talked sense or not, and whether he played to the gallery, as he is wont, or made commonsensical analysis about some of the salient issues that grieve the country. Two of his comments stood out: one was on trade unions, which he trashed; and the undoubtedly ancillary issue of unionised university teachers and doctors, against whom he fulminated robustly. And the second was on minimum wage which he spoke about with incredible and insensitive condescension.

    On trade unions, he was as peevishly incautious as he was smouldering. According to him: “Trade Unions have never served the country well. They have been selfish and everything is about their narrow interests. In general, in Nigeria, trade unions have been a danger to our progress and I think they should be curtailed. The mistake we made as a country was placing trade unions in the Exclusive Legislative List. If the Academic Staff Unions of Universities (ASUU) has an issue with the Federal Government, the state universities will go on strike too. We need to take labour matters out from the exclusive list so that the principle of no work, no pay could be effectively used to stop labour arrogance of unnecessary demands from government which has helped to kill our educational system and health sector. In Kaduna, I warned the Kaduna State University, that if you ever go on strike again because of somebody else, I will fire all of you. I think the health unions have been the most irresponsible because only an irresponsible doctor will abandon his patients even after swearing to the Hippocratic Oath. I think Nigerian doctors are the only ones on the planet that go on strike.”

    Even if you downplay his hyperbole, his remarks would still be found , in large part, to be misplaced, inaccurate and disparaging. Trade unions may not always fight the right causes, nor be unimpeachable in their arguments and style, but it is an exaggeration to dismiss them as waging only selfish causes. Mallam el-Rufai is entitled to argue about where to place trade unions in the constitution, and may even be right in suggesting that indiscriminate industrial unrest has unhinged the educational and health sectors. But no one, not in any government, except perhaps that of Mallam el-Rufai, will suggest that trade unions, whatever their faults, have not fought great causes, both under colonial rule and after independence. The Kaduna governor is apparently not master of his emotions; this is why he often pollutes his more sensible arguments with atrocious self-importance and unseemly cocksureness.

    Perhaps the most offensive remark he made last Thursday was to advocate a reduction in minimum wage while hiding under the sensible caveat that the 36 states, administered under different economic and social regimes, should not be condemned to a unified national minimum. This is a striking remark from the unprincipled Mallam el-Rufai who in the first few months of the federalism controversy sneered that the concept had been hijacked by nefarious politicians. Hear him: “…First, take labour matters out of the Exclusive List because many of us are victims of agreements reached with ASUU by the federal government. The states were never part of such agreements. Second, is the issue of minimum wage; except we set a very low minimum wage, there will continue be issues especially with states that do not have wide tax net. You cannot set the same minimum wage for Lagos and Jigawa.” His lack of profundity should have struck him had he indicated just how much lower than the current implausibly low N18,500 he wants the government to come down to. Or perhaps he was talking in anticipation of the newly proposed minimum wage. The current and even proposed minimum wage are indefensibly low. Workers can neither survive on the new minimum nor hope for a bright future from it. Differentiation can, however, be defended. But to suggest a lower figure as national minimum wage is not only cruel and unfeeling, it is foolish and counterproductive. Mallam el-Rufai does not, however, entertain contrary views with the liberalism and intellectualism he pretends to. No one will be able to persuade him, except of course he sees political capital in fighting a cause. And who can tell, maybe the Kaduna governor is not just about his inflammatory views, but also about hugging the limelight and staying garishly on the front pages of newspapers.

  • Adeosun blames operators for poor publicity

    Adeosun blames operators for poor publicity

    Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun has blamed insurance operators for failing to create awareness through advertisement in the print media, radio and television.

    She made this known to reporters in Abuja.

    She attributed the operators’failure to advertise as one of the major reason for the underdevelopment in the industry.  She said there was need for them to embrace advertisement to grow their business. She stressed that of 57 operators, less than half advertise in the print media, less than 20 on radio and less than 10 on TV.

    She said: “There are several factors that contribute to the underdevelopment of the insurance industry. It majorly includes low awareness. Out of 57 operators, less than half advertise in the print media, less than 20 on radio and less than 10 on TV.

    “There is also the issue of poor distribution channels. Operators of the industry have only focused on one channel which is brokers. This has led to a huge gap in market penetration especially in the retail market which is our greatest opportunity for growth.”

    She further said the challenge of under penetration and non-compliance with the laws relating to compulsory insurance of vehicles, property among others is a much debated issue, combination of poor government enforcement and poor industry practice.

    She pointed out that the discounting industry has some causes of premiums as a competitive strategy, a strategy which would be expected at a much more mature phase of the development lifecycle of the industry.

    It creates a vicious cycle that will ultimately lead to reduced cover in real terms and reduced profitability and capacity for the industry and it must be stopped, she said.

    She noted that in Nigeria, only one in eight cars are insured, only few corporates and the federal civil have group life insurance.

    “Even high risk entities – buildings in multiple occupancy, such as hotels and hostels – have a low rate of compliance.  The regulator alone cannot drive the enforcement, this must be a collaborative effort of the operators, the various arms of government both state and Federal and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

    “To support this, given our vast population and wide geographical spread, the deployment of modern technology is an essential pre-requisite to success. Out of 57 operators, less than a quarter advertise in the print media, less than 20 on radio and less than 10 on TV,” she added.

  • OLISEH’S STUNNER: I won’t pay for publicity, do player business

    OLISEH’S STUNNER: I won’t pay for publicity, do player business

    Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh has vowed he will not pay the media to write positive stories about him and do players’ business as demanded by people he now describes as critics.

    “No matter what these critics say, as long as I am coach of the Super Eagles, I won’t pay anybody to write positively about me in the media as some of these critics have asked me to. Some of them come to me from the back and say I should invite their players and we will do business,” he said in a U-Tube recording.

    He singled out his former national team for being his harshest critics.

    “What is unfortunate is that my ex-colleagues are the most critical. When we played they were mostly sitting on the bench and talking. They were not the real actors who made Super Eagles what they were then. They are still doing the same thing, sitting down and talking,” he alleged.

    “If you think you are better, go for a coaching course, or start coaching and show what you can do.”

    He said he will not serve any special interest as long as he is in charge of the Eagles.

    “I didn’t beg for this job, refused this job twice. It needed the intervention of a respected friend in government. I took it not to serve special interest, but to serve Nigeria,” he continued.

    “I’m patriotic, I love my nation, my nation has made me what I am and this is where I belong. You are not hurting me, my players and my team, you are hurting Nigeria. What if we start fighting and we don’t qualify for the next World Cup? God should bless our critics with the same wishes they are wishing us.”

  • EFCC arrests two for ‘N1.3b fraud’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said yesterday that it had arrested two suspected fraudsters, who allegedly defrauded a foreign investor of $7.9million (N1, 327, 200,000).

    It said a businessman from the Middle East was swindled by the suspects.

    A statement by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspects lured the businessman to invest in the flourishing oil sector in Nigeria.

    The statement reads: “The suspected fraudsters, Mr. Victor Uadiale and Captain Nnaji Everest, were arrested separately in connection to the scam.

    “Uadiale, the principal suspect, is the arrow head of an international syndicate versed in defrauding international businessmen seeking investment opportunities in the country.

    “He allegedly invited the investor, a businessman from the Middle East, to invest in the flourishing oil sector in Nigeria.

    “Using a pseudo name: Victor Emeka, he made the investor to visit Nigeria and received him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and thereafter flew him in a helicopter to a destination where he reportedly met a certain Mr. Grant, a member of the syndicate, who assured him of the credibility of the business arrangement.

    “Convinced that Uadiale was real and the business promising, the investor started paying money in foreign currency into Uadiale’s offshore accounts from where they are laundered into bank accounts around the world.

    “A sum of $ 1,292,000 was traced to a Barclay’s Bank (United Kingdom) account of Captain Nnaji Everest, a member of Uadiale’s syndicate.

    “Also, N1,599,602.58; N1,241,039,000; 894.79 Pound Sterling and $275.30 were traced to Uadiale’s accounts with one of the new generation banks in Nigeria and 391.93 Pound Sterling to another local bank.”

    The commission said although one of the suspects, Uadiale, denied the alleged fraud, a business associate further exposed the deal.

    The statement added: “In the course of investigation, Uadiale denied meeting or transacting any business with the foreign investor.

    “He was, however, nailed by a business associate of the investor, who identified him as the fraudster that duped the investor and led operatives of the EFCC to Uadiale’s home in Festac Town, Lagos.

    “Uadiale and Everest will soon be charged to court.”

     

  • Delta PDP faction looking for publicity, says Orubebe

    THE Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, has said his destiny is not in man’s hand, adding that only God has the power to use man for his purpose.

    He spoke in the light of his suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

    Orubebe said everyone needs to live in Christ to overcome life’s challenges.

    The minister and nine others were suspended for alleged misconduct and anti-party activities.

    He said the faction is not recognised and that it is only looking for cheap attention.

    Orubebe said: “That body is an illegal body. You are aware that this is a government that stands for the truth, it is a government that is transforming.

    “We had a PDP elected body in place and from behind, a group of people went and imposed an illegal body on the people and I said I will not recognise them because they are just looking for cheap attention and I don’t look at it.

    “The authentic chairman, who is in court now, made it very clear that he is the authentic chairman and he is leading the local government executive.

    “He came out to state categorically that nobody should listen to the music they are dancing to. I think that is what I am going to say.”

    On the implication for 2015, he said: “There is no crisis. Politics is a game of people with various interests and what they are doing is also talking about their own interest.

    “But our interest is the interest of the party and we have the body that is legally elected. And so, we don’t have crisis as far as the issues of 2015 are concerned.

    “Everything is in place for us to deliver to the PDP what is expected of us as a party in Burutu Local Government Area.”