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Tag: staff

  •  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.

  • ExxonMobil sacks 150 staff

    ExxonMobil sacks 150 staff

    Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), Unlimited, operator of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation MPN/NNPC Joint Venture in Akwa Ibom has sacked about 150 contract staff and 40 drivers from its employ.

    Some of the victims who spoke with the newsmen in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom Friday said that the development had devastated them.

    They lamented incessant sacking of workers from the oil giant company in Akwa Ibom.

    A sacked driver, Mr Frank Etebong, however, said that ExxonMobil had paid their entitlements but complained that the sacking of workers in the company was out of control.

    He explained that the sack had put confusion amongst their colleagues.

    “Working with ExxonMobil is like holding your heart in your hand because you can be fired at any time.

    “If government does not take urgent step to check the incessant sacking of Nigerians in ExxonMobil, one day the oil giant company will disengage  all our people in the company,’’ he lamented.

    Etebong who would not disclose how much he was paid, said that the money was not even enough to start a good business.

    He explained that there are two set of drivers in the company namely Service Contract Workers and Contract Workers.

    He appealed to the state government to come to their aid, saying that the situation had devastated their members.

    Another Victim, Mr Martins Usendia, expressed displeasure at the situation, saying that there was no justification for the sack of the workers.

    Usendia lamented that the benefit given by Mobil could not feed him for four months before he gets a new job.

    He called on the Federal Government to intervene, saying that the “incessant dismissal of workers had an adverse effect on the economy.”

     

  • SA Insurance employs eight management staff

    The management of Standard Alliance (SA) InsurancE Plc has engaged some experts to drive key areas of its underwriting, Group Managing Director, Bode Akinboye has said.

    In a statement, Akinboye said the move was part of the company’s  plans to take its practices to an higher level internationally.

    To achieve this, he said they had carefully engaged experts from  other companies, noting that they were sure of meeting the board’s mandate to push the company to the topmost part of the performance and quality service delivery in the sector.

    He said among those engaged by the company between January and early May were Thompson Akhigbe, from AIICO Insurance Plc to head the Internal Control Division; Olukolajo Ezekiel from Old Mutual Nigeria to head the Technical Division and Jegede Biodun, Divisional Head, Brokers/Multi-Clients Marketing, who joined the company from Associated Insurance Brokers.

    The company also amployed, Mrs. Bosede Akintomide and Blessing Ana from FBN Insurance to head its brokers’ unit and financial institutions; Alo Olusola who heads the Energy and Special Risk Unit from Guinea Insurance Plc and Messrs.

    Akeem Obembe and Temidayo  Akerele from Equity Assurance Plc were also employed.

  • Benue to embark on staff audit

    Benue State government is to carry out an audit of its workforce before the payment of June salary.

    Governor Samuel Ortom, who spoke yesterday when the forum of former local government chairmen visited him at the Benue Peoples House, said the exercise became necessary following the need to flush out ghost workers.

    He said financial leakages would be blocked to ensure prudence.

    The governor said his administration would use the loan it would obtain to pay two months salaries.

    Ortom said his government would also use the loan to tackle challenges, such as accreditation of programmes at the College of Health Sciences of the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, take-off of the House of Assembly and other government business.

    He told members of the forum that his administration would follow due process in its dealings, stressing the need for them to cooperate with it to succeed.

  • Saving university staff schools

    SIR: I am greatly worried and irked by the recent moves by the federal government, through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to remove employees of the university, who teach in the staff schools from receiving their emoluments from the national treasury, an age-long practice, ostensibly to save funds, in the face of the economic challenges currently besetting the nation.

    Universities have their peculiar cultures and traditions. Let me quickly recall that university staff schools are part of the culture and tradition of universities.  We should appreciate that most universities all over the world, are semi-autonomous communities and are exclusive to scholars (teachers and students).  Because of this exclusive nature, university campuses are communities, which provide basic municipal infrastructure like water, power, waste disposal, sewage, housing, hospital/medical services and other utilities, including elementary and primary schools for children of staff members.  In the course of delivering sound education, teachers are expected to be the purveyors of education by making it possible for children of university staff to access both qualitative and subsidised basic education.  It is just fair then that they should derive such benefit from the system they are striving so hard to promote and serve!

    The removal of the already poorly-paid university staff and academic employees of such schools from government payroll would mean that the affected workers would have no option than to pay multiples of the present fees in order to cater for the salaries of primary school teachers. It is worthy of mention that university staff primary schools have produced eminent scholars, professors, professionals in many fields as well as captains of industries, who have justified whatever resources spent on them by the government and in the process, have given back to the Nigerian nation.

    Beyond their benefits to university staff, their children and wards, staff schools also serve as training laboratories and veritable platforms for undergraduate and postgraduate students from our faculties of education in the sense that students from other faculties and institutes in the university often patronise the staff schools in carrying out researches such as clinical research from the colleges of medicine, drama education from the faculties of arts, microbiological studies from the faculties of sciences and pharmacy, among others.

    Perhaps, it was based on the above-mentioned merits that the federal government accepted in the agreement with university-based staff unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), that the government would continue to bear the full capital and recurrent costs of the schools.

    Regrettably, the new circular from the NSIWC is nothing but an attempt to breach and vitiate this agreement that has now turned out to be subject of tension in the Nigerian university system.  This should be prevented. For a system that has suffered so much from strikes and industrial actions, all stakeholders should avoid further industrial unrest in the system. The position and contention of the unions, particularly SSANU, is that the 2009 agreement, which was freely entered into by the federal government through the instrumentality of collective bargaining, is sacrosanct and cannot be repudiated by any directive or circular, except both parties voluntarily review such agreement.  Any attempt to desecrate the sanctity of their agreement would throw our almost stabilising university system into another round of avoidable crisis, a situation the nation cannot afford experience again.

    The way out would be for government to invite the unions for another round of negotiations on this and other relevant matters, as the 2009 agreement is due for review every four years after assessing the workability or otherwise of the existing clauses. Rather than unilaterally vitiating the agreement, the government should do the needful and never rush into taking any decision by saying primary school staff “must” be removed from the government payrolls.

    •  Abdussobur Salaam,

    Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)

  • Four Kwali chiefs get staff of office

    Sequel to the upgrading of four traditional rulers to resolve the lingering chieftaincy crisis in Kwali Area Council, the chiefs of Pai, Wako and Gomani have been presented with staffs of office.

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed presented the staff of office to the newly upgraded chiefs.

    The new chiefs are Alhaji Audu Sha-aban Nizazo III-Kwali; Alhaji Abdullahi Bala-Pai; Alhaji Ibrahim D. Usman-Wako and Alhaji Adamu M. Saba-Gomani.

    Mohammed said that the delineation of new chiefdoms in Kwali Area Council became necessary in order to do justice to the multi-ethnic nature of the indigenous populations of the Area.

    The minister stated that this was pursuant to the recommendations of the ministerial committee set up to look into the issue of chieftaincy disputes in Kwali Area Council.

    He remarked that the ministerial committee confirmed the appointment of the Etsu of Kwali into an already existing graded chiefdom as second-class chief, while delineating and upgrading three new chiefdoms in Wako, Gomani and Pai as third class chiefdoms.

    The Minister explained that though their respective kingmakers select traditional rulers, the ratification of their appointment rests with Mr. President through the FCT Administration.

    According to a statement issued by the Asst. Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the minster called on all the traditional rulers in the FCT to continue to show responsibility by maintaining law and order in their respective domains together with ensuring harmonious coexistence among all Nigerians living within their communities.

    He reminded them to always keep in mind the vision of Abuja as the centre of unity, a home to every Nigerian.

    He therefore called on traditional rulers and the entire people of FCT to continue to show the same support and loyalty to the incoming Administration because governance is a continuum.

    Also speaking at the occasion, the FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide said that the upgrading, installation and presentation of staff of office is to fulfill the campaign promises.

    Responding on behalf of others, the new Etsu Kwali,  Alh. Audu Sha-aban Nizazo III promised to live up to expectation and thanked the Minister for this uncommon gesture.

    The FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Obinna Chukwu, Emir of Lapai in Niger State, Alhaji Umaru Bago II and other top government functionaries of the FCT Administration also attended the occasion.

     

  • Staff, students locked out of meeting with provost

    Staff, students locked out of meeting with provost

    Some staff and students were locked out for coming late last Monday during the  maiden meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Provost, Mr Gbemiga Ogunleye, with them.

    Some of the students were angry over the management’s decision to lock them out, describing the action as inappropriate.

    A student, who declined to mention his name, said: “It is not good for the management to be treating us like this. Since the meeting was for 12:30pm; so why did they start before time?”

    Another student, Yinka Shobamide, said: “The management does not want to hear our views and this is not good enough. There is no reason for shutting the door against us because we did not come late for the meeting. Some of us have questions for the Provost, but they locked us outside.”

    Responding, the Students’ Affairs Officer Patricia Kalesanwo said she informed all students of a change in time when she went to their classes.

     

  • Council chief urges staff on rules

    The chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Giri has reminded the staff of the council of the need to strictly adhere to the civil service rules in the discharge of their primary assignments.

    Giri stated this during a one-day induction course organised for newly employed junior staff of the council recently.

    The chairman urged them to be dedicated to their duties, adding that if they work as a team, it would help bring about progress and development to the council.

    Also speaking, the head of personnel management of the council, Mrs. Amina Solomon warned the staff against envy which, according to her, can lead to rancour in the council.

    She also called on them to work towards bringing development to the council, urging them to be dedicated to their duties, as this will go a long way in helping them reach the peak during their service period.

    Most of the participants who spoke with Abuja Review described the induction course as helpful, adding that it will help them work properly in the duties of the council.

    It was gathered that about 60 members of staff participated in the induction course which was attended by heads of the department, units head and other senior staff of the council.

     

  • FBN Insurance honours 27 staff

    FBN Insurance honours 27 staff

    FBN Insurance Ltd, an FBN Holdings Company in association with the Sanlam Group, South Africa, has honoured 27 staff for their dedication to duties last year.

    Its Managing Director of the company, Val Ojumah, has said.

    They were honoured at the FBN Insurance maiden awards in Lagos.

    Ojumah said the initiative to reward outstanding performance in staff especially those who have shown excellence in productivity and work attitude aligns with the company’s strategic intent to attract, retain and build a competent workforce.

    He described the resourcefulness of the firm’s workers as one of the major drivers of ensuring expansion and growth.

    He said the staff, who were drawn from the Financial Advisors, Sales Managers and Senior Sales Managers categories would get all-expense paid trips to important places and cash prizes.

    He reiterated that the management of FBN Insurance understood that employee success and business success were linked and a high performing workforce is essential for growth and survival of our organisation. Therefore one of our keys to staff engagement is defining and articulating Employee Goals and ensuring they are tied to organisational goals.

    He pledged the commitment of the Board and Management to reward excellence. He said: “This award is part of our build up strategies to equip our human resources for more competitiveness in the evolving nation’s insurance industry.’’

  • Enter a new Chief of Staff

    There is a huge difference between the new Chief of Staff (COS) to the President, Brig.-Gen Jones Arogbofa (rtd) and his immediate predecessor, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe on their relationship with staff in the State House.

    Oghiadomhe from Edo State, a former Deputy Governor of the state and elevated to the position of COS when President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office in 2010, was said to have resigned from the position on February 10, last year while Arogbofa from Ondo State, who has a military background, replaced him eight days after.

    The Chief of Staff is the administrative head of the State House and has great powers and influence in the Presidency.

    Oghiadomhe, during his tenure, constantly built a wall of about six security aides round himself whenever he appears in public in the State House.

    While two stern-looking security aides will normally stay ahead of him, there were always two aides walking beside him while about two aides will trail behind him.

    Either moving from his office to the President’s office or any office in the Villa, the security aides surrounded him as if the seat of power was not safe or was under threat of imminent invasion.

    When on the move, Oghiadomhe’s aides clear the corridors before their principal gets to any particular point and sometimes shoved aside anybody on the corridor that may not directly be on their principal’s path.

    Oghiadomhe’s phones were mostly permanently on his ears when walking on the corridors and many staff then thought that he was doing that because he did not want to acknowledge their greetings.

    Even when the phones were not raised to his ears, he hardly responded to greetings from journalists when walking by the corridor to the council chamber.

    His gaze was always fixed ahead of him with each step taken with the aura of power and authority that go with his office.

    Some members of staff then that see Oghiadomhe from far coming in opposite direction most likely will make a detour to hide in any nearby office to allow him pass before proceeding to their destinations.

    But since Arogbofa took over as the COS, hardly is he seen walking in the Presidential Villa with more than one security aide. He sometimes walks alone.

    He walks freely and side-by-side with some members of staff on the corridor. The shoving and pushing by security aides of former COS is now a thing of the past, at least for now.

    Not only does Arogbofa acknowledges greetings from staff on the corridor, he has severally stopped to crack jokes with some journalists who were on vigil by the corridor waiting to interview some high-profile politicians coming out from the President’s office,

    Today, members of staff who used to hide in other offices, only stand aside on the corridor to allow Arogbofa pass by. They greet him with respect for his office, knowing that their greetings will be acknowledged.

    Oghiadomhe and Arogbofa, no doubt, are worlds apart in their approaches to issues and interpersonal relationships during their different tenures as Chief of Staff to the President at the State House, Abuja.

    Arogbofa’s style has earned him the admiration of members of staff and most journalists alike.

    Some members of staff and journalists, who were skeptical about the new man and thought that he would revert to the Oghiadomhe’s style as soon as he settles down on the job, have long erased the thought from their minds.

    With over a year in the saddle, they have not only found Arogbofa as a complete gentleman and someone who knows his onions, but they now love and admire him as he passes them by the corridor on a daily basis.

    Aggressive monkeys in the Villa

    Monkeys in the thick forest around the Presidential Villa are supposed to be friendly to an extent, but they are fast becoming aggressive.

    No thanks to the dry season which has resulted in a sort of drought and made their means of livelihood scarce.

    The trees in the forest, which were normally green with fruits, have become dry; with most shedding their leaves.

    As there are very limited eatable items in the jungle, some of the monkeys, which had stayed in the thick forest in the past months, have started strolling out to the car parks of members of staff and the surrounding areas at the seat of power.

    Not only are they coming out in twos and in groups to look for food, their countenance is now full of anger like the popular proverb, “a hungry man is an angry man.”

    On Monday last week, a female member of staff was shocked to her marrow when she experienced a situation that showed the present moody nature of monkeys in the Villa.

    The member of staff who closed from office around 9:30 that night was holding her handbag in her right hand and food flask and other items in another bag in her left hand as she walked towards the car park.

    Her car was parked at the extreme of the car park popularly called ‘Nyanya’ among members of staff.

    A little bit of digression here. The car parks were named according to their proximity to the main entrance to the President’s and Vice-President’s offices. The closest car parks to the entrance are the ‘Maitama’ and ‘Asokoro’ parks.

    Before the ‘Nyanyan’ car park is a mosque on the right side of the road with a dustbin in front of it.

    As the lady walked past the dustbin, two monkeys suddenly sprang up and held the bag on her right hand.

    The lady, who did not see the monkeys before then, immediately dropped the bags and ran backwards to the only staff that was coming behind her.

    As there was no edible item in the bags, the monkeys left them by the bin and jumped over the wire fence to the forest as the lady and the other staff walked towards the bin.

    The lady, who was trembling from the attack, quickly bent down to pick the items scattered on the floor from the bags before rushing to her car.

    The other staff had to wait for her to start the car engine and drive off before going back to his car.

    State House staff and visitors now have to be on their guard when moving around the area, especially in the night.

    It is also hoped that the monkeys will remain calm as the rainy season sets in to make the trees green again in order to produce fruits for their sustenance.