Business
Union Tasks RSG On Contributory Pension Scheme …Hails Wike’s Development Strides
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike (right), receiving an address from the Chairman of SPAT Limited, Mr Maxwell Anuonye, during the grand breaking of the SPATMART Centre, in Port Harcourt.
The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Rivers State council, rose from its 41st State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Port Harcourt on Thursday, and condemned the Contributory Pension Scheme, as it is operated in the State, describing it as retrogressive and anti-workers.
To this end, the union called for discontinuation of its deductions from the salaries of civil servants in the State.
The union, which made its position known on the issue among other issues in a communiqué signed by its State Chairman, Comrade O.T. Lilly-West and the Secretary, Comrade Dan Otakpo said the operation of the pension scheme in the state does not guarantee the much-desired legal framework and transparency.
The union further called for the reform of the pension scheme, noting that since pension was a future commitment, reforms remained a constant and inevitable process of development.
For this reason, the NCSU, therefore, urged the state government to assess the implication of the pension reforms with a view to correcting its defects and negative impacts.
The union, while further reviewing the events, activities and programmes of the present administration in the State, in less than 60 days of its life span, tacitly passed a vote of confidence on the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, particularly on the giant development strides recorded so far by his administration in the areas of infrastructural development including the zero potholes initiative and payment of workers’ salaries, allowances and pensions.
It also acknowledged the remarkable progress and improvements recorded by the administration at various fronts, and assured Governor Wike of the union’s support to his government’s commitment to the evolution of a modern Rivers State, where people are the primary object of governance.
The NCSU, however, decried the decline in education and training in the State Civil Service, saying, requisite education and training were necessary tools for creating the needed knowledge, skills and competence.
The union, therefore, called on government to urgently adopt a training package for all categories of civil servants in the state.
It also decried the politicisation of career jobs meant for civil servants which it said was prevalent during the immediate past administration, and urged the state government and the Head of Service to address the anomaly.
It equally criticised the way the National housing Fund (NHF) is operated in the state, adding that it has remained inaccessible both by its statutory mandate and modus operandi, stressing that by its design and structure, it might never be able to benefit most civil servants in the state.
The State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade O.T. Lilly_West, while addressing the SEC had earlier commended Governor Nyesom Wike, and appealed to him to ensure the payment of the 2014 Christmas Bonus to civil servants.
Meanwhile, the unit officers and concerned members of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board branch of the NCSU, have passed a vote of no confidence on the leadership of Comrade (Mrs) K.C. West for what they described as gross misconduct on her part.
The aggrieved members, who staged a peaceful protest with placards to the No. 14 Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt secretariat of NCSU on Thursday, accused the Comrade (Mrs) K.C. West leadership of financial misappropriation, non-holding of meetings, non-attendance to staff welfare and non-inclusiveness.
In a statement signed by Samuel Nworgu, Ezekiel S. Baekee, Frank Nke, Catherine Uzon, Alex Nwankpa, Nwankwo C.Y. and Emmanuel Egbule, they demanded the dissolution of the Comrade (Mrs) K.C. West leadership and the setting up of a five-man caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the unit in the interim.
In a swift reaction, the Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade O.T. Lilly-West, acting, on the mandate of the SEC, set up a committee to investigate the allegations levelled against the SUBEB unit boss and report back to the union within three weeks.
Donatus Ebi
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