Nation
UNN, BUK Groups Hold Accountability Forum For Councillors
Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Bayero University, Kano (BUK) in collaboration with the University of Nigeria Nsukka Muslim Community (UNNMC) has held accountability forum for councilors in Enugu North.
The event, which took place at Nsukka, was to sensitise the newly inaugurated councilors in Enugu North senatorial district to the need to be accountable as elected public officials.
In a remark, Dr Mausu Saddiq, Director, UNNMC Anti-corruption Project, said the seminar was to sensitise the councilors to be accountable, transparent as well as fight corruption as elected representatives of the people.
“This seminar is to sensitise you to be accountable, transparent, and fight corruption in the discharge of your duties.
“Do your best to fulfill the campaign promises you made to your people and honestly give to them whatever government gives you to give your people.
“Say no to corruption in the discharge of your duties,” he said.
Saddiq, represented by Mr Salawa Sikiru, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the project, said that for the country to take its rightful position in the world all must partner to promote accountability, transparency, and anti-corruption.
“We know corruption cannot be eradicated completely but it can be reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Abdullahi Anyachonkeya, the Admin Secretary UNNMC and Accounting Officer of the project, said that the collaboration of UNNMC with Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies started in 2018.
He said its objective was to ensure elected officers promote accountability, transparency and fight corruption while performing their functions.
“It’s unfortunate that corruption is increasing on daily basis and if we all fold our arms this cankerworm will continue to eat deep into the fabric of our country.
“There is an urgent need to sensitise Nigerians, especially our elected leaders, to how to fight corruption before this ill-wind destroys this country,” he said.
The secretary said that for the people who elected councilors to enjoy good governance and dividends of democracy, the councilors must be accountable and transparent.
“For you to leave good legacies that generations yet unborn will remember, you must say no to all forms of corruption.
“As a councilor, ensure at all time to be politically, morally, financially, and matrimonially accountable as these will enhance your respect and integrity as a representative of the people,” he said.
He urged them to avoid everything that would mar their future and bring shame to their families, wards and local government areas.
“Try to do the right thing at the right time by saying no to all forms of corruption, no matter whose ox is gored.
“Remember, if you perform very well as councilor, it will open more opportunities in the future for you to serve your people and the country in a greater capacity,” he added.
Anyachonkeya also urged them to remember God in all they did, knowing full well that one day they would stand before their Creator to give account of their stewardship.
“In whatever you do in the discharge of your duties, respect, and fear God, because one day you will stand before Him to give an account of your stewardship,” he said.
The accounting officer disclosed that the UNNMC’s Anti-corruption project is funded by the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation.
Also speaking, Rev. Gabriel Imeri, Senior Pastor in City-Takers International Bible Mission Nsukka, said that to move the country forward public officers must be accountable to the people who elected them.
He said that the mandate was across elected and appointed people in federal, state, and local governments.
Imeri, who is also an Assistant Registrar, Registry Department, UNN, noted that many anti-corruption agencies and commissions created by the Federal Government had not done enough.
“We have Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practice and other Related Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau.
“Government should put more measures to strengthen these organisations to enable them to fight corruption and restore the country to the enviable standard of respect and dignity within the comity of nations,” he said.
He urged councilors to shun all forms of corruption as they carried out their duties as lawmakers of their various LGAs in Enugu North senatorial district.
Speaking with newsmen, Mr Jude Omeje, the Leader of Nsukka Local Government Legislative Council thanked the organisers of the programme for the sensitisation.
“What I have learned today will help me to promote accountability, transparency as well as fight corruption as the leader of the legislative council,” he said.
Newsmen reports that no fewer than 20 councilors from the district attended the seminar.
The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme, has reiterated the commitment to service delivery for pensioners.
Ejikeme said this during the Customer Service Week in Abuja, yesterday.
He said that commission had a mandate to deliver good service delivery to the pensioners.
Ejikeme, who was represented by the Director Civil Service Pension Department, Mr Kabir Yusuf, said that the customer service week was important to operations of PTAD.
“Customer service is the support that you give to a customer, whether it is an existing customer or potential customer in the process of delivering or making enquires about a service.
“To be a good customer service representative you need to be knowledgeable, have good attitude and attribute especially to the senior citizens and have empathy,” he said.
Ejikeme said that all PTAD staff had most of the attributes of a good customer representative.
“We provide excellent customer service by going to verify our aged pensioners who cannot do it by themselves anywhere across the country.
“There is a dedicated team that was mandated to go round to confirm the aliveness of those who can not confirm their aliveness either because the are too old or have health issues,” the executive secretary said.
The National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, said that the official theme of the 2024 customer service week was “ We Go Above and Beyond For Our Customers.”
She commended PTAD and the SERVICOM team for organising the 2024 customer service week.
“This is in line with the best practice of celebrating frontline workers and service takers.
“Customer service week is celebrated annually during the first full week in October.
It calls attention to the importance of people to boost morale team work and departmental collaboration in supporting pensioners.
“ It is a platform to reward employees for the significant work they do,” Akajemeli said.
She said that the objective of the customer service week was to celebrate the hard work and dedication of employee who strived to create positive customer experiences.
She said that it was time to show customers that the organisation valued their experience and feedback, through comment cards, dedicated hotline, among others.
Akajemeli said that it raised awareness internally and externally about the importance of good customer service in building customer loyalty and satisfaction.
She said that the benefit was to increase motivation, show appreciation, encourage friendly competition, boost employee retention, create a positive workplace and increase productivity.
The Head, Surveillance Department at the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mr Abdulrahman Saleem, said that good service delivery was the key success of every establishment.
Salem said that PTAD operated with standard, considering the success it had achieved so far.
Saleem said that pensioners required the best service attitude and behavior.
“ I give kudos to PTAD for its efforts and encourage it to do more.
“Therefore I urge PTAD staff to keep up the standard and continue to give good service to the pensioners,” he said.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has honoured Flying Officer David Sangokoya for winning the 2023/2024 Royal Air Force College Cranwell International Cadet Sword of Honour.
Abubakar honoured the officer during the presentation of cheques to 13 beneficiaries of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy (GPAIP) in Abuja, yesterday.
He described the achievement as ground-breaking as it was the first time an African cadet had won the prestigious award since the Academy’s creation over 100 years ago.
According to him, the feat underscores the excellence that exists within NAF, and proof that NAF officers and cadets can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.
“To our awardee, you have set a new standard, not just for your peers, but for every cadet and officer that will come after you.
“This accomplishment is a powerful reminder that no goal is out of reach when one is armed with dedication, discipline and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
“Your journey as an officer has begun with this prestigious accolade, but the true measure of your success will be seen in how you serve, lead and contribute to the mission of NAF and the defence of our great nation.
“As we celebrate this historic occasion, we extend our deepest gratitude to the United Kingdom Government for its unwavering support in providing world-class training opportunities to our personnel.
“This has enabled our officers and men to gain invaluable skills and knowledge, strengthening not only our bilateral ties but also our collective ability to address global security challenges,” he said.
The CAS said that the NAF looked forward to continuing the fruitful partnership for the mutual benefit of Nigeria and UK countries.
He expressed gratitude and unflinching loyalty to President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the welfare and training of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and NAF in particular.
“I must also take a moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the leadership of the Nigerian Defence Academy and the instructors who helped to mould and prepare this cadet for the global stage.
“Their dedication and commitment to developing top-notch officers is evident in this ground-breaking achievement.
“You have not only trained a leader but have given the Nigerian Air Force a legacy we will all cherish,” he said.
National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has advocated private sector involvement to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Director-General of the authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, made the call at a high-level policy dialogue on sustainable health system reforms in Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that the dialogue was organised by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), a coalition of private sector stakeholders, to address the multifaceted challenges plaguing the country’s healthcare system.
The dialogue has “Private Sector Support for SWAP (Sector Wide Approach) in Healthcare” as its theme.
Represented by Dr Yakubu Agada-Amade, the NHIA Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, Ohiri explained the crucial role of private sector collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system
He highlighted the “One Plan” under the SWAp framework, which seeks to unify health sector efforts, ensuring efficient resource use, effective governance and expanded healthcare access.
He also stressed the importance of overcoming barriers that historically hindered the implementation of healthcare interventions in Nigeria, such as inadequate financing, weak governance systems, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He added that “the dialogue explored innovative approaches, including digital health innovations and financing mechanisms to accelerate the implementation of the National Health Act and mandatory health insurance coverage.
“With enrollment in health insurance growing by 14 per cent over the past year, NHIA can push for greater inclusivity, particularly targeting the informal sector through flexible payment systems and partnerships with telecommunications companies.”
He called for stronger synergy between public and private health actors to ensure universal access to quality healthcare and sustainable reforms in line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Panelists from the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) and Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) echoed the sentiments, underscoring the private sector’s role in expanding insurance coverage and improving healthcare delivery.
They commended NHIA’s efforts toward driving reforms to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).