The Nation Newspaper

Tag: retire

  • I plan to retire as a farmer, says Victor Osuagwu

    Comic Nollywood actor, Victor Osuagwu has urged the Federal Government to reduce the level unemployment in the country by investing in agricultural.

    Osuagwu spoke at the African Farmers and Cultural Organisation (AFCO) event, tagged ‘Job Creation/Empowerment for Unemployed’ held last Friday at Zion Event Hall, Isolo, Lagos.

    According to him, Government should be more concerned on how to structure and expand the agricultural sector by granting loans to local farmers, stating that “hey should not neglect the farming the way they do to entertainment industry which has more than 10 million employees. They shouldn’t allow farmers to die in suffering.”

    The actor further implored Nigerians to embrace agriculture.

    “If you go to Europe, a lot of people are farming and that is why they don’t lack food. They have varieties of farm foods to eat but the case here in Nigeria is different. Everybody wants to work in a bank or Oil Company and the other areas are being neglected. So, I give kudos to AFCO empowerment initiative in partnership with federal government to improve agricultural production.”

    He also revealed his retirement plans, stating that he intends to relocate to his hometown so as to fully concentrate on farming.

    “I am preparing myself for retirement because there will be a time we all go to our various areas to go and relax, eat fresh foods and move away from the hustling and bustling of the urban city. I’m presently the President General of my Community. And I’m also a farmer,” he stated.

    He continued by saying that farmers never lack.

    “I’m planning to expand so as to start exporting outside Nigeria that is the reason I’m here today and I learned a lot from this programme. What I do now is that I give it out to people. I don’t buy bags of rice for people.

    Recall that Osuagwu got married to his wife, Roseline in style using a truck as parade instead of a luxury vehicle. The couple got married on December 8, 2012.

  • NAFRC appeals for agric loan as 295 military personnel retire

    The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, Lagos has appealed to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to facilitate loans through the Ministry of Agriculture for retired  military personnel.

    NAFRC’s Commandant Air Vice Marshal Ajibola Jekennu made the plea at the weekend during the retirement of 295 military personnel, who underwent a six months skills acquisition training/rehabilitation to prepare them for life after service.

    According to Jekennu, 80 per cent of the retirees, comprising 270 from the Nigerian Army, 18 from the navy and seven from the Air Force, indicated interest in venturing into agriculture.

    He said: “In line with the current diversification policy of the Federal Government, over 80 per cent of the graduating trainees opted for agriculture.

    “This exposed them to various trends in agriculture and we helped their training by emplacing two green houses within the premises of the centre.

    “The current management is desirous of transforming the centre to a modern training institution that will favourably compete with any of it’s kind anywhere in the world.

    “In this quest, we have enjoyed tremendous support and encouragement from the Minister of Defence, defence committees of the National Assembly and the Permanent Secretary, MOD.”

    To the retirees he said: “Bear in mind that as retired members of the armed forces, the society you are going back to expects much from you.

    “It is important that you uphold the professional ethics you have imbibed over the years by remaining obedient to constituted authority.”

    Commending the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, on the plan to review the mandate of NAFRC in synchronisation with modern trends, Jekennu said they had commenced renovation of a 50-room hostel facility ahead of the take off.

    He said: “It is worth noting that at no other time has the centre been given attention in terms of capital projects since inception like it has enjoyed in the last couple of months.”

    In his address, Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali, urged the retirees not to misuse their retirement benefits, adding that they should avoid negative influence from friends and family members.

    The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni said President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to ensuring proper resettlement of ex-service personnel.

    He said: “The Federal Government is not relenting in its efforts to improve the welfare of service personnel. It has vigorously stemmed the tide of corruption while pursuing due process towards ensuring transparency, accountability and rule of law.

    “I enjoin you to key into this laudable strides towards building our democratic values and sustainable national development.

    “As ambassadors of the armed forces, you are also obliged to reflect the core values of loyalty, integrity and unalloyed service on your societal interactions and activities, particularly in the area of national security.

  •  SEC retires 43 senior staff

     SEC retires 43 senior staff

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday said it had retired 43 senior members of staff and closed down its four zonal offices.

    A statement posted by the commission on its website named the offices as Kaduna, Ibadan, Onitsha and Maiduguri.

    It said that the commission was “undergoing a major restructuring of its operations to boost staff morale and improve service delivery to all stakeholders.”

    The commission said that the restructuring entailed a review of the organisational structure and voluntary retirement scheme to trim down the previously top-heavy ranking structure.

    It said that the commission decided to close down four of its zonal offices to allocate both human and material resources to strengthen the remaining three in Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

    SEC said that the decision became necessary after a careful review of the operations and performances of all the zonal offices.

    “By strengthening the remaining three offices, SEC can do more at a lower cost, this will free up resources to be allocated to critical areas of the commission’s mandate like investors’ protection and investors’ education,” it said.

    The statement said that another aspect of the structural reform of the commission was the composition of staff by ranking.

    “The commission has been operating at an unsustainably top-heavy structure with a lot more of senior level staff and junior level ones.

    “For example, as at January, 2015, there were over 30 deputy directors, more than 40 assistant directors and upward of 80 senior managers.

    “This issue has direct effect on staff morale and motivation because it inhibited career progression,” it said.

    The statement said that the board had approved a voluntary retirement scheme incentive proposed by the executive management for top-level members of staff above the age of 45.

    “Through this exercise, at the end of July 2015, 43 senior staff exited the commission, some of whom had served for more than 20 years.

    “SEC is repositioning the institution to focus on the strategic objective of faithfully implementing the 10-year capital market master plan developed by the market,” the statement added.

  • Brook: I want to retire Amir Khan

    Brook: I want to retire Amir Khan

    HAVING COMFORTABLY won his final world title eliminator on Saturday (October 20), welterweight Kell Brook wants an all-British clash with bitter rival Amir Khan.

    Brook, 26, stopped Hector Saldivia in the third round in front of his home crowd at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield and is now the number one contender for the IBF belt.

    Saturday’s victory should mean that Brook, nicknamed ‘Special K’, will fight IBF titleholder Devon Alexander early next year.

    However, Brook – who has an unbeaten record of 29 wins (19 K.Os) to his name – stated that he has a score to settle with former light-welterweight world champion Khan.

    He told Talksport: “It will always be unfinished business [if I don’t face Khan]. With me and him it’s personal and I’m passionate about that fight. I’m passionate about knocking Amir Khan out.

    “We were on Ringside the other night and there is something about him which really gets to me. People having been talking about me and him for years and I just want to retire him.”

    Brook added: “He’s distasteful with some of the things he says. I just want to take him out. I think it’s going to be a blockbuster for the fans. He only fights in America but I’d love to fight in a big stadium over here. If we can make that happen I’m sure I can take him out.”