Business
Aero Demands Sacked Workers’ CVs
The management of Aero Contractors Airline has directed its recently dismissed 1,000 staff members to submit their curriculum vitae for assessment and possible re-absorption.
This is contained in a letter signed by the Airline’s Managing Director, Mr Obaro Ibru, to the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) in Ikeja.
The letter stated that the re-assessment became necessary as part of the resolutions reached at a meeting convened by the Senate Committee on Aviation on March 28 in Abuja.
The letter was also copied to the Chairman, Senate Committee, Minister of Aviation, State Controller, Ministry of Labour and the Managing Director of the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).
The letter with reference number FA/MA/HRD/L.0046/13 and dated April 2, was titled “‘Resolution of the Senate Committee on Aviation: Ongoing Reorganisation Exercise of Aero Contractors’’.
It ordered the affected workers to return their dismissal letters by Tuesday, adding that the salaries of the workers would be paid at the appropriate time.
“All the affected staff members have been formally communicated with and also notified that they are to undergo an assessment for a suitable role within the company as applicable.
“The balance of their March 2013 salary payable to them will be credited to their salary accounts, respectively.
“While the assessment is ongoing, the full salaries and benefits applicable to them for the position they occupied prior to the commencement of the reorganisation process have been reinstated and will be paid.
‘All individual staff have also been advised to ensure they submit their detailed CVs with correct home addresses and telephone numbers to cv.hour@can.aero on or before close of work on April 2.’’
It will be recalled that the airline commenced skeletal services on March 29 with flights to Port Harcourt, Uyo and Abuja pending the resolution of the strike by the workers.
The Acting Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Joyce Nkemakolam, had said that the airline was granted permission to recommence skeletal flights to Uyo, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
He said the agency would only give Aero the full status when it completed its auditing process with the agency.
“They have not met all the conditions but they had recommenced skeletal service.
“We have given the airline the permission to commence skeletal service till they have full staff strength.
“We gave them permission to fly to Uyo, Port Harcourt and Abuja only,’’ Nkemakolam said.
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