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Tag: staff

  • SEC defends N4.5b staff emoluments

    SEC defends N4.5b staff emoluments

    The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said it has always been cautious on the renumeration of its workers following a reported payment of N4.5billion yearly  as staff salaries.

    Its Director-General, Munir Gwarzo, who appeared before the Tajudeen Yusuf – led House of Representatives Committee on Capital Markets, said the organisation’s recruitment drive was anchored on the peculiarity of the sector.

    While defending the N4.2billion staff emolument, he said the Commission judiciously utilised its resources.

    He said: “In every government institution , 70 per cent or more goes to personnel but we have been able to judiciously utilise ours.

    “The rationale behind it is that we are paying our workers their entitlements and allowances and like you know in every government institution, 70, 80 pern cent of the budget is spent on personnel cost even at the federal level.

    “But I think SEC should be commended because apart from doing that, we have also been vigorously pursuing our capital market mandate which is investors’ protection and capital market development, and you need resources. So even within that limited resources, we have been able to do that.

    “I am sure most of you followed our initiative from last year to this year with respect to electronic dividends, dematerialisatiom; we set up the national investment protection fund and we have paid 3000 beneficiaries; we launched the corporate governance  scorecard, we have set up committees to review all the laws in Nigeria and all these cost money.”

    He also defended the organisation’s recruitment structure saying it always goes for the best hands in the sub-sector.

    He said: “The head of our economic analysis holds a PhD in micro econometrics and we went round the universities to look for someone who specialise in micro econometrics.

    “You could have a PhD in economics specialising in agriculture economics or development economics but because we wanted someone who can be churning data from the market, someone who can do quantitative analysis , we emphasised on econometrics and we had to visit universities in Lagos, Ibadan, Ife and when we went there we said we were looking for that and we had eleven people that went through the process.

    “The assertion that we just got someone is certainly not so. We went through the process and one person became successful.”

    And then the risk management, as a SEC, it is very important for us to fortify our risk management division because we superintend over 1000 operators and each one of them have different risk profile.

    “You are dealing with a broker, with a register, an issuing house, you are dealing with a trustee. So you needed a robust risk management outfit.

    “We were lucky we got someone who had been in risk management for about 10, 15 years apart from being a chartered accountant and he is also a qualified CSA which is one of the most difficult and prestigious financial courses in this world. We also went and got him.

    “The other aspect is the Head of the Research department. Again we went for the best. Four people went through the process and eventually we go someone who has a first degree first class and has a PhD in econometrics.

    “To us we have gotten the best in this market and we brought all the relevant papers showing that we have engaged the federal character commission , they have given us certificate of compliance and they praised us based on the process we went through.

    “Even in the interview panel we had a member of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) which sent us a letter commending us for that.

  • NNPC appoints, redeploys management staff

    NNPC appoints, redeploys management staff

  • Why we sacked 23 University staff- FUNAAB

    The management of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, has explained why it sacked 23 of the university non – teaching staff, majorly of whom are members of the institution’s chapter of the Senior Staff Association Nigeria Universities (SSANU), last Thursday.

    It said apart from the fact that the decision was taken to reposition the university and restore peace within its campus, the “disengaged” staff “erred” and were shown the way out following various offences allegedly committed them.

    In a statement made available to The Nation at the weekend by the Head, Directorate of Public Relations, Emi’ Alawode, the management listed the offences to include “stealing of University property, insubordination and wilful disobedience to lawful instructions.”

    The university management also claimed the affected staff absconded from assigned duty posts, engaged in sabotage and other forms of gross misconduct prejudicial to good governance and peace of the University.

    The statement reads in full: “the Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), at its 90th Statutory Meeting, held on Thursday, November 10, 2016, considered reports on the University.

    “As part of necessary reforms aimed at repositioning the University, the Governing Council approved Management’s decisions earlier taken to restore normal academic activities and peace to the University and commended the efforts of the Management and staff, to sustain the integrity of the University.

    “Council also disengaged some erring staff from the services of the University for various offences, which includes stealing of University property, insubordination, wilful disobedience to lawful instructions, absconding from assigned duty posts, sabotage and other forms of gross misconduct, prejudicial to good governance and peace of the University.

    “This is in line with the resolve of the Governing Council to fulfil its statutory roles of ensuring the stability of the University.

    “Council further approved the appointment of Mrs. Oluremi Oyewunmi as Acting University Bursar, after the expiration of the tenure of Mr. Moses O. Ilesanmi and noted that the process for the appointment of a substantive University Bursar has began.

    “Council enjoined all staff to be dedicated to duty, as necessary steps are being taken to attend to issues of welfare, such as promotions, staff training and development while reiterating its resolve not to entertain any form of indiscipline in the University.”

    But reacting, the National Executive Council of SANNU called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene quickly and over – rule the Management of FUNAAB over the sack of its members.

    In a letter to the President dated 11th November, 2016 and signed by its President, Samson Ugwoke, the Association faulted the actions of the University management.

    SSANU leadership said the sack reeks of a gross violation of the fundamental Human Right of its members to Freedom of Expression and Association as enshrined in section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Mr President Sir, the Union kindly requests your immediate intervention to reverse the sack and allow the investigation by the EFCC to continue. This we believe will encourage patriotic Nigerians to key in and actively participate in Mr President’s fight against corruption,” he stated.

  • FUTA staff, students on war path

    FUTA staff, students on war path

    Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State have backed  their embattled Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adebiyi Daramola, and Bursar, Mr. Emmanuel Oresegun, as the staff unions continue their protest for the duo to go over fraud allegations. DANIEL OLADELE reports.

    Workers and students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State, may be on collision course as the crisis over the invitation of the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Adebiyi Daramola, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) rages.

    The institution was thrown into confusion last week when the news of EFCC’s invitation of the VC and Bursar, Mr Emmanuel Oresegun, hit the campus. Both were summoned by the anti-graft agency for interrogation over alleged misappropriation of  funds.

    The VC and Bursar were released the next day, eliciting protest from members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The protesters picketed the Administrative Block, calling on the embattled VC and the Bursar to go.

    The protest, which started at 2p.m., disrupted academic activities. The protesters moved round the campus, chanting anti-management songs.They expressed displeasure with the “leadership style” of Daramola, insisting that he must step down.

    Some members of the staff said: “Prof Daramola cannot be facing corruption allegation and still be the VC; we don’t want another Saraki-style in FUTA”. The protesters also warned the VC against coming to the campus.

    SSANU Chairman Comrade Dele Durojaiye said the union members would not stop the protest until the VC and Bursar stepped down.

    He said: “We forwarded petitions against the management on the monumental fraud and corruption going on this university. And that is what we are fighting for. What we are saying is that the moment you are being investigated by any anti-graft agency, you should step aside. We want the government to dissolve the council, because we believe the council is equally corrupt.

    “We are also telling the government that not until Prof Daramola is removed, this university will be under lock and key. We don’t care if it takes more than three months. We are joining forces with reasonable Nigerians, with President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption in this university.”

    The leadership of the protesting unions directed their members not to go back to their duty posts, but to converge in front of the new Senate Building daily until the VC and Bursar are gone.

    The FUTA management, which spoke through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Olatunde Arayela, said there was no basis for the protest, because the VC had not been pronounced guilty by any law court. He advised the workers to return to their offices, saying it was unfair for anyone to call for the VC’s resignation over an unproven allegation.

    “The VC and Bursar were only invited for interrogation and as law-abiding citizens. They heeded the invitation but not detained by the anti-graft commission as reported, Prof Arayela said.”

    Students have thrown their weight behind the embattled VC and the Bursar, accusing the union members of sending “frivolous petitions” to the EFCC.

    Students’ Union Government (SUG) President Oluwasegun Oladele, who spoke for the students, said they rose in defence of the embattled VC and Bursar because they found the allegations baseless and an attempt to smear the person of Daramola.

    The students said the workers’ protest could plunge the school into a needless crisis, calling on them to stop it.

    A statement by the SUG president reads: “The Students’ Union deems that the petition against the VC and Bursar as frivolous, baseless and an attempt by the petitioners not to only throw the institution into crisis, but also tarnish and destroy the hard-earned reputation of Prof Adebiyi Daramola.”

    The SUG said members of the staff lied when they claimed the management had not approved their productivity allowances since 2012. Oluwasegun said: “This is totally false. And from our checks, the Governing Council did not approve the payment of the allowances, rather re-appropriated the money to provide services for students.”

    The SUG accused the staff unions of being only interested in “business as usual”, insinuating that SSANU and NASU wanted the management to share the school’s Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) as welfare packages.

    The SUG highlighted some of the VC’s achievements, saying the management, led by  Daramola, had carried out student-oriented projects which have impacted on academics and students.

    Oluwasegun added: “We advise the staff unions to join hands by supporting the lofty vision of the Vice Chancellor and the university management to develop FUTA.They must know that we are not in any way fighting them, but we want them to be considerate and be partner in progress in FUTA.”

  • No sacred staff

    Implementing the CBN order for bank workers to declare their assets should proceed in earnest 

    The idea is to follow the money. In a new directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), all bank employees are required to declare their assets. This directive pertains to the 19 commercial banks, also known as deposit money banks, in the country.

    The CBN issued this order through its Banking Supervision Department and reports say that it has already sent existential jitters through staff. The reason is that employees are believed to own assets in cash, properties and other belongings that flatter their comparatively modest earnings.

    We must note that the law is not new, and the CBN order has stirred anxiety because our financial institutions have left the law in the lurch, freeing bank workers with the impunity of acquisition. Many believe the CBN has invoked it in response to the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption war, which has swept into many otherwise hallowed institutions, including the army. Many thought the banks were an inevitable target in this howling wind.

    The order is only revving up the Bank Employees Declaration of Assets Act 1986. According to Act 1 (1) “Every employee of a bank shall, within fourteen days of the commencement of this Act, make a full disclosure of all his assets.”

    To ensure that the affair is not just an internal affair of the banks, section 2 (1) directs that the declaration “shall be executed before and attested to by the Registrar of a High Court, the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.”

    To ascertain that this exercise is not a casual declaration, it calls for thorough investigation that should include the “spouse, child, relative, parent, associate or privy.” Section 7 (2) prescribes a ten-year jail term as well as forfeiture of excess assets.

    The war against corruption has unveiled the underbelly of Nigerian thieving, and many persons of standing have been exposed for dipping their lofty hands in the sewers and led to great distrust in those who pilot the affairs of this country.

    It must be noted that the act does not cover the commercial banks alone, but also the CBN. It also nests merchant banks, acceptance houses, discount houses, financial institutions or any authorised dealer appointed under the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. So, although the CBN directive specifies the 19 money deposit banks in the country, its purview is vast.

    Commentators, including this newspaper’s editorial board, have noted repeatedly that the war against corruption will be futile without the interrogation of the financial institutions. It is the node of corruption. Banks deals with the corrupt persons, broker with them, receive the cash, funnel it, arrange interests, prescribe or suggest or implement investment possibilities, encode them to ward off the peering eye, move the cash around the nation’s financial tunnels, guard them against losses, suggest profiteering potential, launder it and inform the owners of the progress of their investments.

    Many bank top fliers have fallen under the wrong side of he law a few times. They paraded themselves as not only professional geniuses but also moral role models. They were disgraced as liars, cheats and thieves, and cast doubts on the honesty behind their public flamboyance and portrayed the Nigerian moneyed elite as no more than a class of showy brigands preying on other people’s money.

    So, we support the effort to check financial excesses through assets declaration. We, however, want the process to be transparent and not follow the tedium that has characterised anti-corruption prosecutions so far. We suggest that the special anti-corruption court proposed spring into being in time, so the onslaught on corruption is not just in words.

  • UNICAL staff, students tackle health centre

    UNICAL staff, students tackle health centre

    The University of Calabar (UNICAL) Health Centre is the first port of call for indisposed staff and students. Students especially prefer the centre to the UNICAL Teaching Hospital (UCTH), which has more facilities. Members of the university community are worried that the centre is not living up to expectations. But management has allayed their fears, saying there is no cause for alarm. STANLEY UCHEGBU (Accounting) writes.

    How dependable is the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Health Centre? At its peak, the centre can attend to  more than 70 patients weekly. But to students, the service provided is nothing to write home about. They complain about the conduct of the personnel, some of who they accuse of extorting them.

    Located on the main campus, the facility caters to the medical needs of more than 20,000 members of the university community,  including staff and students. In recent times, the centre has become a beehive, as students flock there for sundry reasons.

    The centre has several departments, including radiology, pharmaceuticals and laboratory.  When CAMPUSLIFE visited the centre, everything seemed to be working  and the facilities, including an ambulance, appeared to be in good condition. The personnel were seen moving around to attend to patients.

    Besides students, the staff are also complaining about the services at the centre. Some are saying that the facility is not living up to expectations. Students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, accused the nurses of not treating them well. They claimed that they were asked to pay for drugs and other services which are supposed to be free.

    Michael Umoh, a Public Administration student, said he was only given Paracetamol and vitamin C tablets to treat malaria. “The nurse, who attended to me, only gave me Paracetamol and vitamin C. Then, she told me to buy anti-malaria pills from the pharmacy. The drugs they prescribed to me were expensive,” Michael said.

    Medical Laboratory Science student Cynthia Ekeng, said: “I was rushed to the centre last year by the former Students’ Union Vice President, Akpan Inemesit, when I had fever. But, to my surprise, the nurses there told us they did not have drugs anymore; we had to go outside to get drugs.”

    The students also accused the  centre’s management of a professional misconduct. They said the personnel usually demanded patients’ registration cards before attending to them.

    Etim Bassey, a Political Science student, condemned the personnel’s behaviour, saying the centre has not lived up to expectation. He said: “They don’t have sufficient drugs to give patients. When students are rushed to the centre, they will demand registration card. How can a doctor, who is supposed to save lives be demanding for registration card in emergency cases? This is professional misconduct.”

    The centre’s director, Dr Eno Ebong dismissed the allegations, saying students were not being “truthful”.

    She said nobody would ask for a patient’s registration card during an emergency. Dr Ebong said it is the medical personnel’s duty to save life, stating that there were instances of non-students and non-staff being treated without medical cards.

    She said: “The first thing we usually do is to save life. We give referral to patients if it is a case we cannot handle. But, people have been taking advantage of this to benefit from our service. Two weeks ago, we arrested a man, who impersonated a 300-Level student. He could not point to a male hostel. We had to call security officers to detain him. How can a 300-Level student say he didn’t know where the school hostel is located?”

    Dr Ebong said the centre renders free medical service to all bonafide students, dismissing the allegation of professional misconduct against the personnel.

    She added: “We give priority to students who are on emergency and we render free medical care for bonafide students, even for some of them who are pregnant. Before now, the health needs of staff and students were paid for by the government, but when the National Health Insurance Scheme came on board in 2008, it took over the scheme but patients still need to pay 10 per cent of the price of drugs they are given. It is not all free. But, students’ registration is free.”

    The director said there were times the centre ran out of drugs, but added that since Prof. Zana Akpagu assumed office as Vice-Chancellor, the centre has been getting sufficient drugs.

    “As I speak to you, our pharmacy is stocked with sufficient drugs that will last for a whole session. The management does not waste time in approving anything concerning the medical centre. We don’t have any obsolete equipment. If you go into our wards, you will discover that a good number of beds have been provided for patients,” she said.

    Dr. Ebong said those with wrong opinion about the centre may not have visited there. She advised them to visit the centre and see things for themselves.

  • NCS probes incident with FAAN staff

    NCS probes incident with FAAN staff

    The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is probing the clash involving its officer and an official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), over right-of-way near the Palace Gate of the Cargo Terminal.

    The probe, according to the spokesperson of the NCS Airport Command, Thelma Williams, would establish the veracity of the claim by FAAN official that a Customs officer attacked him near the Palace Gate over right-of-way.

    She said preliminary findings by Customs showed that the officer was not trying to enter the Palace Gate as alleged by the FAAN staff.

    But the officer made a turn towards the Hajj Camp axis of the road, when the FAAN staff, blocked his car.

    She said the Customs officer was not taken to the Airport Police Station over the matter, but reported officially.

    Williams said it was important to clear the air on the matter because of the rumour that the Customs officer beat up the FAAN staff and damaged his car.

    She said: “At no time did our officer try or attempt to access the monument gate as being alleged. Rather, the officer veered off the road to drop off a friend only to be barricaded by a FAAN staff in the company of four FAAN workers.

    “He tried to inquire the reason for the barricade and this led to an argument which culminated into a scuffle.

    “There was never a point that our officer was taken to the police station as reported in the press. The incident was a misunderstanding of right of use of way on the Airport Boulevard.”

  • Council organises training for staff

    The Head of Administration, Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Prince Adegbola Olujobi, has advised revenue collectors to be civil.

    Olujobi, who spoke at the two-day training organised for the members of junior staff in the council, said the training was aimed at acquainting them with civil service rules and norms.

    He stressed that the programme was in conformity with the directive and policy of the local government service commission, which specifies a quarterly and regular training and re-training of members of the junior staff of every local government in order to maximise productivity.

    Olujobi also reiterated that elements of patience, persuasion and lobbying are essential in achieving the desired results of improved revenue profile of the council which will enable the council to meet the ever-increasing social demands of the people.

    He revealed that the council has maintained its motivational and incentive-based strategies, as panacea to boost productivity and output of members of staff. He promised to provide the enabling environment that will promote greater efficiency and productivity.

    He said as part of measures to create comfortable working environment for workers of the local government, the council has concluded plans to move relevant departments and personnel to the newly constructed complex within the local government premises.

    Present at the programme were Deputy Secretary, Hon. Oyewuwo, other members of the transition committee and the Human Resource Officer, Mr Victor Alivide, among others.

  • Govt discovers irregularities in recruitment of LAUTECH staff

    Govt discovers irregularities in recruitment of LAUTECH staff

    The Osun State Government on Friday said it has discovered cases of irregularities in the recruitment of some staff of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Osogbo, the state capital.

    In response to the last Wednesday rally of some staff of the hospital, where they claimed that the state government had concluded plans to disengage them, the media aide to the governor, Semiu Okanlawon, in a statement, said the government could not act outside the report of a forensic audit of the staff of the hospital.

    According to the statement, the government through the forensic staff audit was able to discover “various illegal recruitments of staff in excess of over 600.”

    The statement further said: “The audit panel set up in 2015 revealed that about 678 staffers were illegally employed without government approval. Besides, some of these staffers were just administrative officers not urgently needed for the growth of the hospital.

    “The available statistics also showed that some of the administrative officers in question with Bachelor’s Degrees and Higher National Diploma holders were recruited as security and Ward Assistants on Grade Level 02 only to be promoted to Level 07 within three months of their unapproved appointment. The government also discovered over 500 staff that are Executive and Assistant Executive Officers more than triple the number of available doctors and consultants.

    “What sense would it make for hospital with 34 administrative officers; 56 consultants and 154 Resident Doctors to employ 426 Administrative Executive Officers? Should there be need for recruitment at all, will it not be beneficial for government and the hospital management to recruit officers into strategic area of the state’s healthcare needs?

    “With the current statistics available, the Administrative Executive Officers have more than tripled the numbers of doctors, consultants and nurses, who are the special needs of a functional hospital. To make matters worse, all the recruitment and undue promotions of workers from Grade Level 2 to that of Grade Level 07 within 3 months were done without the approval of the government.”

    The statement also disclosed that some resident doctors, “who were asked to go, are those that have exceeded the mandatory six years required to pass residency examination,” adding that some of these doctors have spent more that 10 years in the hospital.

  • Ecobank downsizes key management staff

    Ecobank downsizes key management staff

    Ecobank Nigeria Limited has sacked close to 50 top officials and promoted 300 others, The Nation learnt yesterday. The  restructuring is a result of the rising cost of operations and reduced profitability following tough regulatory policies affecting profitability.

    Pressure from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other regulators has affected banks’ profitability, cutting down their Return on Investments (ROI) as they gradually lose their traditional areas of income. This has led to massive staff disengagement in many lenders.

    For instance, the ongoing implementation of the zero Commission on Turnover (CoT) fees, increase in contribution to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) levies and high Cash Reserve Ratios (CRRs) are key policies depleting banks’ bottom lines.

    In a statement, the management of Ecobank Nigeria Limited said the promotion  affected about 10 per cent of the employees and is in line with the bank’s commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence and exceptional performance. The promoted staff cut across all cadres of the workforce.  It admitted that a few staff that performed below expectation had been exited.

    Deputy Managing Director  Anthony Okpanachi said the bank was committed to rewarding excellence and will continue to take positive action in line with international best practice to sustain excellence in its workforce. His words: “Our people are our precious assets who enable us maintain service quality standards, uphold customer satisfaction and enhance our brand experience”.

    The affected staff were selected through an appraisal  conducted using an in-house developed performance management system which uses both financial and non-financial metrics to categorise staff.