The Nation Newspaper

Tag: stop

  • Stop demanding money from politicians

    Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, has said  politicians’ urge to steal public funds results from unrealistic demands made on them by citizens. He said political office holders are usually pushed to use illegitimate means of making money, because their loyalists expect them to meet personal, family and community needs that go beyond politicians’ earnings.

    Onofiok made this revelation when he delivered the second public lecture of Ritman University in Ikot Ekpene. He urged political leaders not to bow to pressure to steal public funds, saying they must show transparency and accountability in the management of the nation’s wealth.

    In his lecture titled: Good governance and community development, Onofiok said community development promotes the ability of community members to collectively make better decisions about the use of resources for their growth.

    To achieve community development, the Speaker said members must be ready to embrace attitudinal change and re-orientation. He said: “Just as the leaders strive to build an efficient and empowered community, rather than personal empires from the common wealth, people must be ready to support the effort by changing their attitude towards development. Aside campaign promises, citizens must stop making demands from politicians. Sweet without sweat is not sustainable.”

    Onofiok said good governance should be judged by accountability, transparency, rule of law and civil society participation in the decision-making process.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Celestine Ntuen, said the lecture was aimed at informing the public on national values. He described the school as a “place where knowledge crystallises into development and the creative capacities of humans to reach the zenith”.

    Pro-chancellor and Governing Council chairman of the University of Benin (UNIEN), Senator Bob Effiong, hailed Ritman varsity’s agenda to transform its host community into an economic hub, noting that the institution’s strategic plan would make it stand out as the best private university.

    Chairman on the occasion and VC of Akwa Ibom State University, Prof Eno Ibanga, hailed the lecturer for “incisive analysis” of developmental challenges facing rural communities.

    Chairman, Board of Trustees of Ritman University, Sen. Emmanuel Essien, said establishment of the school had proved to be the best achievement of the Ritman Group of Companies. He said the quality of scholars assembled by the school showed that the university was established to address knowledge deficit in the country.

  • Stop it

    Senate’s action in withholding confirmation of RECs amounts to abdication of responsibility.

    After the 2015 general elections, it was expected that the eighth National Assembly would improve on the performance of its predecessors, having learnt some useful lessons. Unlike the situation in 1999, many of the elected senators in 2015 were ranking, with some having served in that capacity since the inauguration of the Fourth Republic. But, mid-way into their tenure, it appears things are getting worse.

    The events of the past few weeks, in particular the screening of Mr. Ibrahim Magu for chairmanship of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the summoning of Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, to answer queries on review of the import duties on motor vehicles, and the very recent decision to decline  screening presidential nominees for the post of Resident Electoral Commissioners, suggest that this Senate is determined to sink the ship of state.

    The Senate had argued that the executive was aiding officials to disregard its decisions and resolutions, thus undermining the legislature. It cited President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to act on the Senate’s rejection of Mr. Magu’s nomination and failure to sack the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, as two of such instances. It also blamed the President-in-Council for the refusal of the Comptroller General of Customs to appear at plenary in a Customs uniform, claiming he received tacit support from the executive arm of government, especially with the letter sent by the Attorney General of the Federation.

    Consequently, it took two unsavoury decisions. First, it chose to set aside the confirmation process for nominees for the Resident Electoral Commissioners for two weeks within which it believes the President would have acceded to all its demands. Second, the chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who had credited the President with the power to keep Mr. Magu in office in acting capacity until such a time that the Senate would confirm him, came under heavy attack. For describing the senators as childish and irresponsible in their actions, the matter was referred to the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the Senate. He is being summoned to point out senators he referred to as having questionable character.

    This is another phase of the face-off between the two major arms of government. We appreciate the olive branch handed out by the Federal Executive Council in setting up a committee to interface with the legislature and ensure that the business of governance does not grind to a halt. Under the leadership of  Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and with former senators in the Council as members, it is expected that a middle ground would be found in resolving the crisis.

    We are miffed by the decision of the Senate to set aside its primary responsibility because it feels offended by presidential action or inaction. It must be pointed out to the legislators that the state accorded them so much privilege that they may perform their functions without let or hindrance.  The  procedure known to law is that when two arms of government or institutions of state are unable to find accommodation on any matter, the courts are beckoned on to adjudicate. By seeking to arm-twist the executive, the Senate has fallen short of the democratic standard.

    At a time when many Nigerians are groaning under the yoke of economic downturn and the budget is yet to be passed at the end of the first quarter, a responsible legislature should not be threatening a shut-down of business, directly or indirectly. The lawmakers were not elected to carry placards or carry out civil protests. They were seen as leaders who would be able to mediate in disputes in the land and cooperate with the executive in ensuring that the security and welfare of the people are given effect at all times as enshrined in S. 14 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    All the pranks that have kept Nigeria rooted on the same spot must stop. The task of pulling the country out of the doldrums devolves on the three arms of government. It is even more unfortunate that the two arms of government in conflict are controlled by the same political party. The indiscipline being exhibited is a function of failure of the party system. We call on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to quickly put its house in order. Its inability to make the organs of the party functional and rein in officials in government is at the root of the excruciating pain being felt by the people today.

    We advise the Senate to seize the opportunity provided by the Osinbajo Committee to redeem itself in the eyes of the public. Nigeria is bigger than anyone or institution. Therefore, those who hold the sacred trust of the people should act  in the common interest at all times.

  • NLC, TUC ask Ebonyi to stop ‘illegal’ pension deduction

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have asked the Ebonyi  State Governorment to stop violating the  amended Pension Reform Act, 2004.

    The groups said in a statement signed by their presidents, Ayuba Wabba and Boboi Bala Kaigama, that the government’s abuse of the pension law was made known to them by their councils in Ebonyi.

    They said the government has started pension deductions from its workers’ salaries long before it passed its pension law. They also alleged that the operating pension law is in contravention of the contributory ratio in the national pension law which mandates the employer to contribute a minimum of 10 per cent, and employees eight per cent to the contributory pension account.

    According to them, Ebonyi made its percentage contributions five per cent for the employer, and eight per cent for the employees.

    The state, the two labour groups claimed, commenced the implementation of the new law without first putting in place requisite processes or structures, such as adequate sensitisation on the rights of the workers in the scheme by it and the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

    They alleged that none of the recommendations made by workers during the public hearing by the House of Assembly on the bill were included in the law.

    They indicated their willingness to meet with Umahi to find a solution to the issues which they said was troubling.

    “The pension issue is among the other violations (the majority of which are labour issues as captured by Conventions 87 and 98 to which Nigeria is a signatory) the state council has brought to our attention.

    “In consideration of the seriousness of the facts, the leadership of the NLC and TUC will be honoured by a meeting with Your Excellency on March 14, 2017 or on a date more convenient to you to resolve all outstanding issues,” the statement said.

    They added that in implementing the law, the views of workers should be sought as against making laws intended to subjugate them.

    “The views of workers should be taken seriously, especially on this matter. Happily, PenCom has developed a model or template for the states. Indeed, most of them that have keyed into the contributory scheme have improved on the basic provisions in the template.

  • Let’s stop the sick joke

    Let’s stop the sick joke

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan seems so unpretentious you could vow he is like your next door neighbour. No airs. No ostentatious display of wealth. No professorial jargons of an exhibitionist academic. No boasting – except when he needs to remind us that to him we owe a world of gratitude for surrendering power to President Muhammadu Buhari instead of listening to the sharks who pressed him to hang in there even when it was obvious that it was time to throw in the towel. Poor fellow.

    There he was the other day in London sermonising on how he had fought corruption and how –irony of ironies- he had become a subject of investigation by anti-corruption agencies.

    “I did very well also to curtail corruption,” Dr Jonathan said, adding:

    “My approach to corruption was don’t make money available for anyone to touch. We made sure that the area of fertiliser subsidies was cleaned up and the whole corruption there was removed.

    “I tried to do the same in the oil industry, but the very people that were accusing us of corruption were the same people frustrating it; it’s unfortunate.”

    His Excellency had hardly left Bloomberg’s studio before the questions started coming in torrents from seemingly bewildered Nigerians and their friends. Which administration was Dr Jonathan talking about? Did he exhibit the courage needed to clean up the oil sector that had become a cesspit of corruption? Who are these people holding him by the neck and frustrating his bold bid to move even as they accused him of corruption? The same people who caged him for six years, as he once told the world?

    But Dr Jonathan was not done. He said in reply to a question: “Obviously, I’m being investigated.” Would he be found guilty?” He said: “I wouldn’t want to make certain comments because when a government is working, it’s not proper for immediate past president to make certain statements. I wouldn’t want to make comments on that; it’s not proper. After all these investigations, the whole stories will be properly chronicled.”

    Chronicled? Sure. The facts are already being assembled – in the courts where many who played key roles in the administration are saying all they knew about the stealing that went on as if it was a kind of sport in which the best thief would snatch away some golden trophy and then mount a city victory parade. Incredible. The chroniclers, I am sure, are already confused by the fact that it is all real. Masters of fiction are stunned by the surrealistic details.

    Huge cash being turned in voluntarily. A key security office turned into a mere cash machine dispensing cash to whoever had its not-so-secret code. A minister shelling out millions of dollars to bribe election officials. Phony payments for phony multi-billion naira contracts, including – wonders of wonders – prayers.

    All this and yet we are regaled with stories of how the administration fought corruption? C’mon Dr Jonathan, give us a break.

    We look forward to when our former president will take a break from the lecture circuit to write his memoirs. It will be quite interesting to know where he was when Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders took a sledgehammer to the treasury, hammered their way through and ripped it open for the unbelievable pillage that left it bleeding to death. Besides, he should remember to put on record how he tried valiantly to let Nigerians know the difference between “corruption” and “stealing”. He may also wish to add the definition of what many Nigerians believe is a brand of kleptocracy – “lootocracy”.

    Interestingly, many of those PDP leaders who have done well for themselves are  now either battling to free themselves from imminent charges being prepared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Some are already in court. Others are being nostalgic about the past. They are romancing the past in which they saw life as one huge Lagos party that will never end. They have been threatening that in 2019, the PDP will –God forbid – return to power.

    A reporter asked elder statesman Ebenezer Babatope to assess Buhari’s first year in office. “I want to be honest with you, even though we are suffering, we have never encountered this kind of suffering before,” he said.

    With due respect chief, Nigerians know that Buhari is not the architect of their pains, which he is doing his all to stop by stemming the bleeding caused by the rapacious PDP. By the way, are PDP chiefs part of this suffering multitude? I doubt it. Whenever the condition in which we have found ourselves is discussed, it should be clearly stated that Buhari has got his teeth into clearing the mess of about 16 years in which PDP chiefs, at our expense, led a rollercoaster champagne life that would make Hollywood greats green with envy. They lived like kings and partied like movie stars. Nigerians said “enough”, kicked them out and handed Buhari the mandate to demolish the edifice of vices built by fraudsters, pranksters and gangsters parading themselves as leaders. Now the rebuilding has begun. It will take some time and patience, despite the hardship.

    I salute the courage of the PDP crowd. In other climes, a major calamity, such as losing power after 16 years – they threatened to keep it for at least 60 years, in the first instance – would have seen some committing suicide. Hara-kiri.

    Little wonder they have been grumbling and whining about how the Buhari administration has not been good to them. Senator Ben Murray Bruce has been all over the social media, complaining that a Department of State Services (DSS) official blocked him from shaking hands with Buhari during a dinner for lawmakers at the Villa. That was pettish of the distinguished senator, who has often been criticised for his inability to draw the line between an objective criticism and sheer bitterness and abuse of privilege that his blistering attacks on the Buhari administration constitute. He once offered to donate his salary to Osun workers. I wonder why he has not extended such a cheeky gesture to his home state Bayelsa workers who have not been paid for five months. Nor have the dying states’ pensioners got any such impetuous offer from the loquacious showbiz host turned senator.

    PDP governors who collected ecological funds and blew the cash have been exposed by the heavy rains that have caused floods in some states. All Progressives Congress (APC) governors were shut out of the revelry. Now such funds are not available to be easily diverted to oiling their fancies. And we say they shouldn’t grumble? Buhari, it should be noted, did not discriminate in the bailout funds for the states.

    They say the anti-corruption war is selective? How? PDP leaders’ blithe disregard for honesty and proclivity for impunity led them this far. They deserve to have their day in court; not those who knew nothing about the looting of the treasury.

    What those who blast the Buhari administration for its “slow pace”, especially in tackling our economic challenges, should think about is where we would have been if the PDP and its army of thieves had remained in the saddle.

    They should not talk only about what they think the administration has failed to do but spare a thought for its achievements in security, in the fight against corruption, in workers’ welfare (the bailout funds) and in the battle to save the naira –its present trouble was imminent, no doubt.

    Now, let’s stop the sick joke and put our hands on the plough to save our dear country. Have we any other?

     

    Stephen Okechukwu Keshi (1962-2016)

    I was barely two hours in bed at 5.12 a.m.when Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere called to break the news of former Super Eagles Chief Coach Stephen Okechukwu ‘Big Boss’ Keshi’s death.

    I recall how firm his grip was when I shook his hand. Ade brought him to my office at “The Nation” after an interview that preceded his appointment as the coach of the Super Eagles. I remember his broad smiles, his towering figure and his happy, carefree disposition. In a soccer-crazy country as ours, Keshi meant so much to the fans. Some saw him as bold, brash and brutal – in demanding his rights. But he was easily the most successful indigenous coach of our national team – and its longest serving captain.

    He had a great career, decked with trophies and accolades. Keshi was the first to lead the Eagles to the World Cup as a player, captain and coach. He was the first to win the Nations Cup as player, captain and coach.

    Keshi’s death was not just a family tragedy, coming about six months after his wife’s. It is a national calamity. May His soul find peace with the Lord.

  • 10 things organisations, employees should stop doing

     “The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say “no” to almost everything.”  – Warren Buffet

    2015 was a year I spent learning a lot of golden principles about success and interestingly one of the best, if not the best lesson I learnt is the significance of a To STOP doing list. Tons of books, articles, white papers, info graphics, blogs, etc. have been written on what we should start doing, how to start doing them and the importance of creating To Do lists but hardly will you find a book or anyone talking about what we should stop doing – a subject I have come to regard as completely vital in the pursuit of outstanding success.

    In his bestselling book – How the Mighty has fallen; Author Jim Collins coined an interesting phrase “the undisciplined pursuit of more,” where the pursuit of greater success leads to loss of focus and diffused results and ultimately failure. The tendency for us to continue to pile up our plate with more things to do is the reason for so much mediocrity that we find in the world today. Even the word priority has evolved into priorities which in itself is an oxymoron. It’s like saying one wants to buy new antiques. You can’t buy new antiques just like you can’t have several priorities.

    The tendency to do more and more affects organisations and individuals alike. Even when companies know that an advantage has run its course, they will still continue to defend it to the bitter end simply because they are unable to confront their brutal realities and adapt to the changing environment.  This goes for individuals too. We keep doing something that is of no value simply because we do not want to experience uncomfortable feelings usually associated with letting go of what we have become comfortable with.

    So what are the signs that you are engaged in an undisciplined pursuit of more? And most importantly, what can individuals and organisations do to help them avoid this dangerous trap going forward?

    STOP DOING LIST FOR COMPANIES

    1. Endless Pointless Meetings:com carried out a study on 500 office workers in the UK to find out how many hours are spent in meetings, on average, and what percentage of these meetings are actually useful.The results show that the average office worker spends around 16 hours in meetings each week, and that around a quarter of this time is usually wasted. That’s four hours of pointless meetings every week.

    Over a year, this works out to more than 200 hours. Over a career, the total is even more alarming with the average worker sitting through around 9,000 hours of needless meetings – a full year and ten days!

     

    1. Annual Performance Reviews- Performance reviews should be done on a regular basis; preferably after each assignment. Having regular performance reviews and feedback sessions will implement a more fluid system, in which employees receive timely feedback from their managers on an on-going basis following every assignment. What really is the logic behind having employees wait till the end of each year to get feedback on their performance? I totally fail to see how this profits the employees and organisation alike. Imagine how many blows could have been avoided throughout the year, and on the reverse, worthy matters that should have gained more focus.

     

    1. Not Evaluating Managers’ Management Styles- It is not a myth that people join organisations but leave managers. It is unsafe for any organisation to live in blissful ignorance of how its managers manage its employees, especially where they’ve had no form of preparation or training for that position. The effect of managers’ relations with employees on employee retention and performance cannot be overemphasised and should not be overlooked.

     

    1. Hiring replacements as opposed to having an effective succession planning: If nothing else, at least consider the cost of replacing a wrong hire; management, administrative and legal costs, plus the indirect cost of stolen/damaged goods, equipment, employer reputation, etc. According to a survey conducted by Right Management Consultants, the replacement cost of a bad hire is 1 to 5 times the salary of the job in question. Every forward-looking organisation should have a comprehensive succession plan.

     STOP DOING LIST FOR EMPLOYEES

     

    1. Gossip: The president of ReputationManagement.com, Bill Fish says the biggest issue he has seen over the years that causes conflict at work is gossip. “I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve had to intervene with employees who are upset that someone is talking about them behind their back, or betrayed their confidence by sharing information that they should not have,” he says. “In reality, you are going to run into gossip situations whether it is the middle school girls’ volleyball team, or the finance team at a Fortune 500 company, but I’ve seen it destroy plenty of relationships and result in people leaving their job.”

     

    Gossiping at work is toxic and does not serve anyone well. Besides, it is quite logical that if you gossip about others, people would also gossip about you! If you can’t say something nice, then say nothing at all.

     

    1. Complaining: This is the second palm of gossiping, but this time, about your employer. One of the commonest and most persistent trends is employees complaining about their employers. Some employees complain so bitterly that their co-workers and even families develop resentments against the organisation. If you have an issue with how things are done or specific procedures and rules in your organisation, make a formal complaint about it, better still, have a face to face with your HR Manager or whoever is directly concerned. Co-authors of “Crucial Conversations,” Joseph Grenny and David Maxfield found in a recent study that 56% of employees refrain from addressing troublesome issues at work for more than a year. The authors note that while this might not appear to cause immediate conflict, such silence has a long-term effect that can build up and cause problems down the road.

     

    1. Making the workplace a relationship platform: This is one thing I have completely failed to understand. People get employed into an organisation and then make friends with colleagues to the extent that these relationships grow to become more important to them than the organisation itself. They would do anything to protect those relationships, even at the expense of the organisation.

     

    1. Not speaking up/giving feedback to your boss: It is not unusual to see employees who prefer to stay quiet and have others speak out on their behalf, especially in this part of the world. Employees should begin to consider speaking up for themselves, giving feedback to their line managers and holding them accountable for goals/tasks they are responsible for.

     

    1. Taking/Venting personal frustration and anger on others: Henceforth, make it a point of duty to leave your ‘home’ troubles at home. Even if you choose to carry it around, don’t carry it on your face, or in the words you speak to others. It is absolutely wrong to take out your frustrations on people who had nothing to do with the cause in the first place. It is a fast relationship killer. Bringing bad mood to the office can spread from one person to the other. At the end of the day, no one would have a productive day.

     

    1. Unrealistic expectations from your company: People join organisations and expect everything to be perfect. This really is a mindset that has to be changed. Organisations hire primarily because there are problems to be solved! People are hired to add value to their organisations, not to come live their dream lives and earn salaries on top of that. Unfortunately, the latter is often the expectation of most employees. Unrealistic expectations are placed on organisations while the employees’ end of employment contracts are often ignored. If everything in the organisation was perfect, why then were you hired?

     

    Now pause to reflect on this ‘To Stop Doing list’; what do you think would be the result if you cannot stop any of these? More importantly, also create your own “To Stop doing list”. What would be on your list?

    Share with us. Drop a comment on www.workforcegroup.com

    Bolaji Olagunju is the Lead Consultant/CEO of Workforce Group; a Management Consulting Firm that offers diverse services in the areas of Learning, Development & Research, HR and Business Consulting, People & Task Outsourcing and Recruitment Services.

     

  • How govt can stop child blindness, by don

    How govt can stop child blindness, by don

    To reduce infant blindness, the Federal Government and non-governmental organisations (NGO) have been urged to increase advocacy and public enlightenment on the disease.

    A Consultant Paediatric Opthalmologist of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof Oseluese Dawodu, gave the advice while delivering the 152nd Inaugural Lecture of the institution.

    She spoke on the theme Childhood blindness: A changing picture with changing challenges.

    Dawodu said the rise in the number of blind children could be attributed to poverty and superstitious beliefs that a child with an eye problem would overcome it. She said it was wrong for illiterate people with eye problems to use unorthodox medicines instead of the hospitals.

    Lamenting the growing rate of the condition and stigmatisation of blind children, Dawodu said traditional institutions and miracle churches have done more harm than good to blind children taken to their centres for care.

    She said: “Rather than bring the children to the hospital for care, their parents visit miracle centres which promise to restore the sight. After much harm has been done, they approach hospital. This can be attributed to illiteracy. An educated parent would know where to seek eye care when the need arises. Sadly, many persons are in the habit of using borrowed eye glass and using wrong lenses. This is pathetic.”

    In curbing the menace, Dawodu urged the government to establish Opthalmological centres in all parts of the country, to bring treatment closer to the poor. She also called for ban of unregistered practitioners from treating eye patients.

    “If we can effectively tackle poverty, then the disease will reduce. If people have job, they will be willing to seek treatment because there will be money. Also, there should be an introduction of Rubella virus vaccine in the national immunisation policy for children and proper funding of the health sector as this will reduce the cost of treatment,” she added.

    Dawodu thanked the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Chief Medical Director, Prof Michael Ibadin, and Emeritus Professor of Opthalmology Joseph Ayanru, who founded the department in the Teaching Hospital.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Farady Orumwense, hailed the lecturer for her service to the varsity. He urged audience to spread the message to the appropriate quarters. He said the university’s inaugural lecture would remain an avenue where scholars would educate the public in various areas of research.

     

  • How to stop wrong diagnosis, by experts

    Key players in the health sector are seeking ways to stop wrong medical diagnosis.

    They spoke at this year’s diagnosis awareness forum, organised by the Initiative for Medical Diagnostic Awareness (IMDA) in Lagos.

    The theme of the event,  tagged Diagnostic Business Forum, was “Partnership for medical diagnostic development in Nigeria.”

    Guest lecturer Dr Olusola Akinniyi called for collective response to tackle the problem.

    According to him, medical diagnostics have the potential to save many lives through detection of diseases at early stages.

    “But rather than save lives, it takes lives when it is wrongly carried out,” he said.

    The effect of an unreliable result, he said, can be dangerous, adding that it is better not to have a diagnostic result than having a false and misleading one.

    Akinniyi, represented by a Director at Union Diagnostic and Clinical Services Plc, Dr Abiodun Oyeneyin, said early diagnosis ensures that patients get right treatment quickly, and as such can curb the over-use of inappropriate drugs, which is critical in the fight against drug resistance.

    “To get the best medical outcome, advanced diagnostic examinations must be applied to diagnose the patient’s underlying health problems,” he said.

    He identified lack of basic tools, poor allocation of fund to diagnostics in public and private hospitals and manpower as bane of diagnosis in the country.

    He said diagnosis is needed in urban hospitals and rural clinics.

    Quoting the Registrar of Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Prof Anthony Emeribe, he said there are 10,000 medical laboratories but majority of them operate below global standards. “Even worse, only 3,000 are in the council data base,” he said.

    He said diagnostic results are at the centre of putting science into healthcare practice, stressing that only accurate and reliable result can justify healthcare practice.

    Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adeshina, said medical diagnosis, which is the identification of nature and cause of an illness may jeopardise effective healthcare and delivery if not properly handled.

    She said the programme was coming at a time precise and apposite diagnosis is at low ebb in clinical management amd practice.

    Adeshina, represented by Dr Kolawole Oyedeji, noted that lack of public and private sector coordination and commercial pressures in the latter leads to poor quality result.

    Aside, work environment contributes to low motivation, less than optimal productivity and high attrition.

    “These challenges are further compounded by health practitioners’ survival of the fittest dictum.

    The absence of a common forum to discuss the issue, she said, has been the bane to correct the anomaly, hence the lack coordination in information gathering.and sharing.

    Nigeria, she said, has developed strategy to ensure continual availability of human resources for health.

    She therefore effective implementation of the strategies need the active engagement and involvement of stakeholders, especially the private sector.

    She said something should be done to provide Nigerians the kind of healthcare system that is betting for any self-respecting people.

    Adeshina said it was time the country adopt, a public-private partnership (PPP).

    “Rising levels of chronic diseases and multi-morbidity, concerns about the quality and safety of patient care, the need to measure and assure value for money for investment in health and the need to allocate health system resources wisely are too important to leave without good information for decision making,” she said.

    IMDA Executive Director, Dr Abimbola Adekoya, identified poor funding, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to new technology and poor link with development partners as bane of medical diagnosis

    He said this was responsible for why foreigners have taken over the sector in the name of partnership.

    Adekoya said many people have passed a vote of no confidence on the sector because it promoted medical tourism.

  • How to stop Boko Haram by Oritsejafor

    THE president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has called on all Muslims, including religious, traditional and political leaders in the north to counter the destructive ideology of the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

    He said only Muslims can come up with a better ideology that will demobilise the one promoted by Boko Haram, which has led to loss of lives and property.

    Oritsejafor gave the charge at the 11th anniversary\prize-giving day and the 6th valedictory service of Stephen Centre International Group of Schools in Ogun State.

    He said that Boko Haram is propelled by a religious ideology and must be countered with a superior ideology through massive awareness by Muslims across the country.

    The CAN’s helmsman noted that Islam is a good religion but lamented that Boko Haram insurgents are painting it in bad light, urging Muslims to redress the development.

    He dismissed the notion that the terror war unleashed by the insurgents was borne out of poverty.

    Boko Haram’s late leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and Farouk Abdulmutalab who attempted blowing up a KLM flight heading to the United States of America in 2009, according to him, were not poor.

    He explained that pumping millions of dollars to the north in an attempt to fight poverty will not stop the rising terror war since it is ideological.

    He said that prayer remains the only way out of the insurgency, stating, “The unwarranted attacks, the destructions of properties, have created distress for every Nigerian.

    “The solution to the insurgency we are facing in the country is for all Nigerians to continue to pray for Nigeria.”

    The Executive Director of Stephen Centre International Group of Schools, Mr. Isaac Newton-Wusu, stated that the home is for displaced victims of the insurgency in the north.

    No fewer than 424 children orphaned by Boko Haram and 84 others from riots in the north are in the home, he stated.

    “We do not give children away for adoption. We just try to give them hope in everything,” he stated.

  • Dolphins stop Prime 1-0, to meet Elephants in final

    Dolphins stop Prime 1-0, to meet Elephants in final

    Dolphins will face cup holders Enyimba in the final of this year’s Federation Cup final after they pipped hard-fighting Prime FC in Thursday’s semi-final in Abuja.

    Both Nigeria Premier League (NPL) clubs will clash in the cup final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on August 16.

    Dolphins are aiming for a fifth cup triumph, while Enyimba are on track for a fourth victory in the cup competition after they won last year’s final against Warri Wolves.

    Ebube Okpokwu was Dolphins’ match winner in the 48th minute against lower league Prime FC in Abuja.

    The Port Harcourt club are reaching the final for the first time in seven years.

    Enyimba won the other semi-final when they beat Giwa FC 1-0 courtesy of Raphael Buomsong’s goal in Abeokuta.

  • At 80, I can’t stop writing

    At 80, I can’t stop writing

    Publisher, Islamic scholar and missioner, Alhaji Ayo Adeyemi, releases 11 educational books at 80 and tells Edozie Udeze that he can never stop writing 

    This is indeed a season of birthdays for several senior citizens in Nigeria. From the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who clocked 80 on Sunday; media giant, Prince Henry Odukomaiya, who also recently clocked 80; and ace columnist, Dr. Olatunji Dare, who has also hit 70, it is indeed a season of birthdays.

    Now, on July 27, entrepreneur, writer and publisher of the defunct newspaper, ‘Lagos Flight’, Alhaji Ayo Adeyemi, will also clock 80. Like the other ‘ birthday boys’ who have celebrated the landmarks in different ways, Adeyemi, who is also the founder of the Isolo, Lagos-based Islamic Mission Organisation, has rekindled the writer in him. He has published 11 new books aimed at exposing pupils to the rudiments of Islam.

    The books include ‘Why I am Proud to be a Muslim’, ‘Fasting’, Abridged History of Prophet Mohammed’, ‘The Concept of Prayer (Salat) in Islam’ and ‘What is Qadar or Predestination?’

    Others include ‘Knowledge is Power’ ‘All Roads to Arafat’ and ‘Act of Charity (Zakat)’.

    That Adeyemi is a seasoned teacher, researcher, writer and publisher are evident in each of the books. Apart from the fact that they are detailed and revealing, the materials are presented in simple language that children will especially cherish.

    While Adeyemi discusses topics such as  ‘The Effect of Zakat’, ‘Amount of Contribution’  and ‘General Condition that makes Zakat Obligatory’, he coaches the reader on ‘Nabi or the Prophet of God’ and ‘Kidden Knowledge’ in Why I am Proud to be a Muslim’.

    At 80, Adeyemi is still physically fit. He not only freely walks around, he still drives himself around Lagos, an exercise that, he believes, helps in keeping him alert. But a mark of his creative alertness is the books which Islamic scholars have received with much excitement.

    Commenting on the works, the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University, Ojo, Dr. Isaq Akintola, notes in the foreword that Adeyemi is a man whose passion for Islam is instructive. The scholar, who is also the Director, Muslim Rights Concern, saluted the writer for his contributions to the development of Islam in Nigeria. Also, he uses the opportunity to correct the wrong impression that some people have about Adeyemi’s preaching, as the latter is a radical missionary who does not believe in using religion to bamboozle adherents.

    Akintola writes, “Alhaji Adeyemi comes across as a man with great organisational skills,” Akintola writes. “He is a highly talented manager of men “His passion for Islam knows no bounds. He is also an artist nulli secundus. This is where he surpasses many businessmen of his ilk. He has successfully combined mastery of business integrity with musical stardom. He has produced many enticing albums and his works linger on till today.”

    According to Adeyemi, who is also an Islamic gospel artiste, having released albums while also planning to record more songs, the books are published as part of the  ‘Islamic Foundation for Beginners Series’. He explains that that they are to advance the Islamic catechism for which he is famous, having been one of the pioneers of Islamic tracts in Nigeria. He says the series were conceived to show young Musilms fundamental knowledge of Islam.

    The writer adds, “Islam enjoins us all to search knowledge and the truth. But many people do not bother to get that knowledge first. The lack of the real principles of Islam is the genesis of the security problems we are having, especially the Boko Haram issue. Islam is a religion of peace. Now, it is important to bring up our children in the right direction, and that is why I decided to write the books.”

    Although he rose from grace to grass, having lost his father at an early age, Adeyemi has remained committed to the growth of knowledge. He says he lives by example in this wise, as he is not only a committed writer, he is still a passionate reader.

    “I cannot stop reading. I read even up till today. A leader must be a good reader particularly the kind of people I have been privileged to lead are people you can’t lead through the nose. You have to be intelligent and educated, and know what is happening around you and globally. That is the essence of religion, anyway. It is not about just prayers, it is about leadership in every facet. There are so many professionals that I am privileged to lead. So I have to carry everyone ahead. I have been interviewed by many university students coming for researches. As a religious leader, you have to lead by reading,” he says in an interview.

    He adds that he delved in to singing as means of propagating Islam.

    His words, “It is all about propagation. When we were young, the most popular religion of the day was Islam in Lagos because there were lots of merriment and entertainment. It was sweet. There were lots of things to eat by both Muslims and non-Muslims. People enjoyed those things. And most churches then only opened on Sundays. And apart from hymns and prayers, there was no dancing. The people that introduced dancing and marching around were the Salvation Army, then later the Aladura. It was strictly formal. The mosque was virtually open till night every day. What was missing in Islam was introduced by the Pentecostal churches.

    “Majority of the people who went to church then were not there because they loved church, but because of problems and once the problems got solved, they stayed back. So I introduced choir, bought drums and other things because I wanted people to stay back even after their problems had been solved. That was how I started going to the studio to keep people’s interest, especially the younger generation. Once they come for the music, I also speak to them, and through that, they stay. It is working even though I am being criticised. But until someone shows me where the Holy Quran prohibits what I am doing, it is not wrong and I will continue.”