Business
NCSU Moves To Resolve FIRS, Workers’ Feud
The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Federal Council, Abuja, has set machinery in motion to resolve the disagreement between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and its workers, who have been demanding improved welfare and other working conditions.
The union, which made its position known on the issue, after rising from its 55th Federal Executive Council meeting last Tuesday in Abuja, expressed sadness over the adamant posture of the management of FIRS in engaging NCSU as a way of resolving the disagreement.
The union, therefore, directed its federal council to employ whatever means to ensure that it brings the management of FIRS to a round table discussion while placing all MDAs affiliated to NCSU on red alert in case of further interventions.
The union, which gave this indication in a communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Federal Council, Comrade Timothy Odebunmi and the Secretary, Comrade Daniel Otakpo also stressed the need for the Federal Government and state governments to reduce the cost of governance in view of dwindling resources.
It regretted that while a greater parentage of the youths are unemployed or facing abject poverty, hundreds of millions of naira is used in maintaining and paying political office holders, and, therefore, urged government at all levels to cut down the size of political appointees in order to save resources to meet other development needs and programmes.
The FEC-in-session equally expressed concern over the level of mass poverty and insecurity in the country as well as corruption, and called on the Federal Government to put policy measures in place that would address the level of poverty and unemployment as a guarantee for social security and peaceful co-existence.
The union noted the decline in the provision of appropriate and adequate training needs in the federal civil service, and called on government at all levels to urgently adopt a training package for all cadres of civil servants that will be comprehensive, cost effective and proactive; equip officers and personnel with requisite skills, ability and competence; and reposition the civil service for it to respond to the challenges of neutrality, responsiveness, efficiency and transparency.
It also frowned at the shortage of working materials in some MDAs, a situation it said has slowed down the rate of output by workers in the MDAs and advised the various organs of government to re-double their efforts by ensuring that working materials are readily available for civil servants to deliver on their mandate. The union equally called for total overhaul of the federal secretariat, as most of the lifts are dysfunctional, a situation, it noted has become an impediment for workers and visitors alike to access their offices.
The union further noted that overheads to MDAs are grossly inadequate to carry out the business of government, and condemned in strong terms the tendency by some heads of departments to deploy money without recourse to financial guidelines and regulations, stressing that in some cases, such monies are diverted for personal aggrandizement, and therefore, advised all those involved to stop the ugly trend.
It felicitated with the new Auditor General of the Federation, Mr. Aghugbu Arhofomhenla Adolphus over his appointment, saying , it was based on merit, honesty, hardwork and dedication to service, and also congratulated the council Secretary, Comrade Daniel Otakpo and his predecessor, Comrade Prince Rasheed Sani for their elevations to the rank of Assistant General Secretary of NCSU, and reaffirmed the council’s commitment, loyalty and trust in the national leadership of the union led by the President, Comrade (Chief) Lawrence Uchechukwu Amaechi.
By: 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