Business
CLO Seeks FG’s Intervention On Enugu Workers’ Strike
Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), South East Zone has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the 10 day old industrial action embarked upon by workers in Enugu state to press home their demand for the implementation of the N18,000 new minimum wage by the state Government.
Making the call in a statement issued in Enugu, signed by the zonal Director of the Organization, Barrister Olu omotayo, and made available to newsmen in Enugu Wednesday, the body also called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the state so as to prevent the people living in the state from further hardship and deprivation they are currently experiencing as a result of the strike which involves all sectors in the state, including banks, Road Transport, aviation, hospitals, educational institutions, among others.
His words: “The impact of the strike has been tremendous on the citizens of the state, as government ministries and parastatals have been shut down. More alarming is the fact that hospitals, banks and other financial institutions have also closed down. Electricity and water supply has been so erratic, or one can conveniently say the supply had been cut off”.
According to him, “all activities in the state have been grounded to a halt as the masses continue to cry out for help. There is no solution and hope in sight with the reported overseas trip made by the state Governor, Sullivan Chime, without solving this problem which has now become a humanitarian crisis that should attract the attention of the whole country and the World at large”.
Their investigations, he said, clearly show that something urgent has to be done to alleviate the sufferings of the people living in the state, as the poor masses continue to suffer the effect of the present strike declared by the organized labour. We also gathered that patients in some of the government hospitals have been removed from the hospitals by their relations. Our findings further show that if nothing is done particularly to make the banks and the hospitals resume work immediately, more deaths will be recorded and we shall be having serious humanitarian crises at hand in Enugu State”.
Maintaining that the absence of governor Chime has compound the whole matter, Omotayo reasoned that if the federal government fails to intervene in the matter, the lives of the people would be in serious danger, as lack of water and other essentials of life can easily lead to out break of epidemic in the state.
Continuing, the CLO South East zonal Director further said: “The President as father of the nation should as a matter of urgency recall the governor of Enugu State from his overseas trip to address this urgent issue which portends danger to the welfare of the masses of Enugu State in particular and the Country in general.”
“We also call on all Nigerians to come to the aid of the people of Enugu State, by taking all necessary steps as the circumstances of this situation demand, so as to stop the present sufferings of the good people of Enugu State. The suffering is becoming unbearable everyday for the masses. All Nigerians should rise to the occasion and not allow innocent citizens to continue to die daily due to the devastating effect of the strike on a populace that even before now is living below average standard of living expected in a democratic society like Nigeria”, he further pleaded.
MoniePoint Inc. a digital financial firm in Nigeria, has said it is empowering community pharmacists across the country with innovative payment solutions to improve access to drugs.
The financial firm said it had also provided loans for pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to drive healthcare delivery in the country.
MoniePoint in a release titled, “Inside Nigeria’s community pharmacies: How Moniepoint drives healthcare access with payments and funding”, has reaffirmed its commitment to providing digital payment solutions to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
The release examined how community pharmacies play a crucial role as vital access points for medical care in Nigeria, especially in areas with limited hospital or clinic access.
According to the release, the ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Igwekwam, highlighted the critical role played by community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system over the years.
Igwekwam, however, expressed concerns over the challenges confronting the nation’s pharmaceutical industry which he said was hindering access to affordable medicines.
The pharmacist listed poor infrastructural systems, power, transportation, regulatory bottlenecks, importation dependency, and limited research opportunities as major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector.
He also stressed the need for robust collaborative efforts with institutions like Moniepoint to strengthen the sector.
“As Nigeria continues to grow, improving local pharma manufacturing to meet the demands of this growth presents a key opportunity for us all.
“There is also the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which is expected to boost our industry, especially when we start producing our drugs locally, which will provide the much needed foreign exchange from exports.
“We are also seeing advancements in digital health and technology which would hopefully deepen the practice of e-prescription in Nigeria”, the ACPN boss said.
Corlins Walter
In order to enhance customer service and streamline operations, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has called on stakeholders in the insurance industry to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The President of the institute, Yetunde Ilori, made this call at the 2024 Office Representatives Committee (ORC) Workshop, organised by the institute, with the theme “AI and the Future of the Insurance Industry”, in Lagos.
Ilori at the event, emphasised the importance of AI adoption, noting that it was not a threat to jobs but rather a tool to improve efficiency across the insurance sector.
“It is not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us using AI to simplify processes and give maximum satisfaction to all the customers we serve whether as underwriters, brokers, loss adjusters, or in educating our members”, she said.
The workshop, which brought players in the insurance sector together, aimed to address how AI could be leveraged to transform business processes and improve customer interactions.
The Chairman of the ORC, Monica Nwachukwu, underscored the role of AI in modernising the industry, adding, “AI can automate customer and claims processes, allowing insurers to provide faster and more efficient services to their customers”.
She explained how AI could help extract data from legacy systems, enhancing decision-making processes.
“By integrating AI with APIs, insurers can feed valuable data into AI solutions to improve operations and customer service”, she added.
In his address, the Managing Partner of A4S and Training Heights, Orlando Odejide, stressed the need for companies to align their strategies with future technologies like AI, especially as they prepare for 2025.
“Any organisation that wants to grow into the future must have its strategic plan in place. If your strategy for 2025 is not ready, it should be done by October”, he advised.
He encouraged participants to think critically about how AI could be integrated into their business models to ensure they remain competitive.
“The idea is for you to use this workshop as a platform to think about your organization and how AI can help streamline your processes and improve growth”, Odejide noted.
In order to gain global respect and recognition, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue its goal in ensuring that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global space economy.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, NASRDA revealed that the Director-General of the agency, Matthew Adepoju, emphasised this during recent engagements at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Global Alliance Business Association international conference in Michigan, United States.
The statement noted that Adepoju outlined a forward-thinking agenda, stressing the importance of Nigeria’s space programme as a leader in research, exploration, and technological innovation.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
“We must foster collaborations with global space agencies to enhance our satellite capabilities and technological infrastructure”, he stated.
The NASRDA boss said the agency is focusing on enhancing satellite capabilities, expanding international collaborations, and leveraging space science for national development.
He said NASRDA will have no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence, ensuring the agency secures the necessary resources and recognition to propel it forward.
“The relationships we build today will pave the way for tomorrow’s advancements in space science.
“Innovation and progress thrive in an environment built on collaboration and inclusivity”, he stated.
He emphasised that with the support of the government, international partners, and a dedicated team, NASRDA is poised to make significant strides in the evolving global space landscape.
“We are on the brink of a new era for Nigeria’s space agency. Together, we will ensure our nation stands out in the global space economy”, he said.
Corlins Walter