Business
Transport Crusader Challenges NURTW’s Activities In PH
A co-operative transport
Crusader and founder of the transport Co-operative Movement in Rivers State, Mr. Tubonemi Wokoma has challenged the eligibility of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the trade union law, describing them as impostors.
Wokoma made this assertion in a paper titled, “The Truth Must Be Told to NURTW Impostors”, and made available to The Tide correspondent in Port Harcourt recently.
According to him, the impurity of NURTW defies the nation’s law openly as they operate contrary to the laws in the commercial road transport sector, adding that they used their position to enslave the self-employed commercial road transporters and the commuting public for years.
He said it is disheartening that the Labour and transport ministries allowed NURTW impostors to perpetrate all kinds of illegalities to destroy this very important economic sector in the nation, adding that, “The NURTW negative activities affects the revenue of the state and the local government, but still, they allow such activities to keep on affecting their revenue, suppress the self-employed transporters and give the commuting public wrong mentality”.
The crusader noted that the transport sector comprises 90 per cent self-employed workforce in the intra-city transport sector and 60 per cent interstate transport workforce, totaling more than 25,000 workforce in the day to day transport activities.
Wokoma, who is also a co-founder of the Nigerian Association of Co-operative Transporters Ltd (NACT), which is the national umbrella body of all co-operative transport societies in Nigeria reiterated that the self-employed transporters and the gainfully employed workers of corporate road transport companies are both separated by the law, an d make reference to the Labour Act Section 91 (1) Cap 198 LFN, but frowned that today the self acclaimed members of NURTW have taken over the self-employed transport sector with the assistance of the ministries and local government areas.
According to him, they have gone beyond their bye-laws by forcefully impounding vehicle mechanically propelled for non-payment of tax as they also carry out illegal seizures, impose fines on seized vehicles without due process of law.
“Their illegal activities encourage the NURTW importers and gave them the illegal power to take over and control the illegal business of the self-employed drivers with criminal style, NURTW openly and courageously conscript self employed transporters.
The founder disclosed that the illegal activities of NURTW started 37 years ago, when the road transport sector had few gainfully employed workers as staff of commercial road transport companies, pointing out that that situation later changed when the sacked workers of road transport companies joined hand with criminally minded members to use the name of NURTW to impersonate to camouflage for their illegal activities in the country.
When contacted on telephone, the Deputy State Chairman of NURTW, Ominiayebagha Duma Kalango simply said the constitution establishing the union is there to explain further as they are a Road Transport Worker union and bonafide members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State.
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