Category: Featured

… Stakeholders To Reconvene

…Strike Put on Hold

Williams Anuku Abuja

The meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige to find amicable solutions to the issues of consequential adjustments arising from the new national minimum wage ended in an inconclusive note on Tuesday.

However all the stakeholders involved in the negotiation are expected to reconvene today, Wednesday, to possibly iron out other grey areas that may culminate in averting a proposed strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress which was supposed to start on October 16th.

However the meeting which basically dwelt on the consequential adjustment regarding the N30,000 national minimum wage made some headway as both parties shifted ground on their earlier positions.

At end of the of the meeting which lasted for over 5 hours, government stepped up from 11 percent for grade levels 07 to 14 and 6.5 percent for grade levels 15 to 17 to a new offer of 17 percent for grade levels 07 to 09, 15 percent for workers on grade levels 10 to 14 and 12 percent for grade levels 15 to 17.

Also, the Labour team reviewed their stance from 29 percent to 25 percent for grade levels 07 to 14 and 24 percent to 20 percent for workers on grade levels 15 to 17.

Deputy President of NLC Amaechi Asugwuni said “Negotiation is still ongoing even though we actually thought negotiations will be concluded today but we can’t predict the negotiations, therefore adjournment became necessary to the best if our knowledge the struggle will still continue applies. Tomorrow we will meet by two and that meeting will also determines the fate of that we expect that we will close that meeting positively.

“So far commitment has been shown but we believe that the areas that are still in context are critical therefore government can urge also on their part to see how they can shift ground positively in order to mitigate the agitation ahead”.

Head of service of the Federation, Mrs Folashade Yemi said
“We’ve had a very peaceful engagement so far the labour side has discovered that there is just one side of the welfare of workers and both sides made a lot of concessions but we discovered that there are some grey areas that needs to be ironed out. Some documents and information are being sorted out which we are providing and by Grace of God tomo discussions will continue and we believe that we will be able to get everything resolved”.

The meeting is however continuing Today at 2pm at the same venue.

Recall that the first phase of negotiations collapsed due to percentage differences between the two parties, the Federal Government negotiating team and the JNPNC, which is representing labour unions in the negotiation for the total implementation of the new minimum wage.

Labour was insisting on 29 per cent salary increase for officers on salary level 07 to 14 and 24 per cent adjustment for officers on salary grade level 15 to 17 while the FG had presented a proposal of 11 per cent salary increase for officers on grade level 07 to 14 and 6.5 per cent adjustment for workers of grade level 15 to 17.

It was gathered that the government budgeted N158 billion in the 2020 appropriations Act to take care of the new wage demands.

Before yesterday’s meeting, the Secretary, Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Alade Lawal, had boasted that organised labour would not accept anything less than its demands of 29 percent for workers on levels 7-14 and 24 percent for workers on levels 15-17.

He had compelled government to meet labour’s demand in order to avert any industrial action.

But having emerged from the last minute meeting, their position changed.

With the latest development, the proposed strike has been put on hold, pending the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting.

Williams Anuku Abuja

Amidst daunting challenges bedeviling the aviation sector, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) a global regulatory agency for aviation has rated Nigerian airports to be 96.4percent secured, efficient.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika who displayed the plaque issued to Nigeria on Tuesday, said Nigeria’s rating improved when the federal government adopted deliberate policies to improve security measures at the airports.

He said part of the measures it adopted was to develop a new template for security, including hiring experts to re-organise the entire system.

Sirika, who was at the Presidential Villa to present the plaque to President Muhammadu Buhari, told State House correspondents that ICAO conducted series of checks and screening on 193 member countries from which 16 were found to have improved considerably and Nigeria happened to be one of them.

He said: “Today Nigeria has shifted from where it was in aviation security because we have scored 96.4 percent. I have just seen the President and delivered to him something that we are very proud of as Nigerians; a certificate for improved security in civil aviation.

“Civil aviation is about safety and security, how very safe and secure you depart a point and land at the other point. At the time the current President took over we were very marginally scored in terms of security and safety.”

The Minister, who recalled how some passengers of Turkish Airline threatened airport officials in 2015, said the incident served as a wake-up call to aviation officials in the country and they kept improving the security architecture across the country’s airports, leading to the attainment of a near perfect situation.

“We developed a template for security, engaged experts, came for approval from the President and he graciously approved that we reorganise the system to make it better. We included the appointment of key individuals including the Head of Aviation Security in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN where we found a seasoned Group Captain who was a security expert himself and got him trained on aviation security and deployed him as Head of security.

“Among other measures we put in place to deal specially with insider security and that got us somewhere on the world map of aviation security.

“Nigeria was certified alongside 15 other countries, after a world wide survey on security by the International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO.

“ICAO which is the having the statutory responsibility of monitoring, policing or regulating the world of aviation and setting standards, took a survey of 193 member countries of ICAO form among which 16 were found to have improved security in their aviation system tremendously and gladly, Nigeria was one of those 16 countries.

“Our score from the audit of ICAO was 96.4 percent, a remarkable improvement from a country that was scoring less than 50 percent in the past. Today, form the approvals we got from our President, his guidance and counselling, we have been able to raise that to 96 percent, which is near perfect and in recognition of that, the country Nigeria received a certificate in Montreal Canada during the General Assembly of ICAO and we are proud to announce that.” he said.

Walter Duru, Ph.D

One of the cheering news in Imo State today is that the administration of Governor Emeka Ihedioha has submitted a Letter of Intent to join the Open Government Partnership, Nigeria. This confirmation came from the Secretariat of OGP Nigeria, Abuja. The implication is that the state has made some commitments in the area of Open Government.

Imo State government sources identified some of the commitments made by the state to include: Access to Information, Anti Corruption, Open Budgeting, Fiscal transparency, Open Contracting and Citizens Engagement.

Enquiry at the OGP National Secretariat revealed that a Letter of Acceptance of Application to Imo State has already been signed by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice and will likely arrive Owerri, the State capital this week.

Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative that focuses on improving government transparency, accountability and responsiveness to citizens through technology and innovations. It was launched in 2011 by eight founding member-countries, following their endorsement of the Open Government Declaration. The eight countries are: Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, The Philippines, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America.

Nigeria joined the OGP in July 2016, two months after President Muhammadu Buhari attended the Anti- Corruption Summit organised by the government of the United Kingdom in May, 2016. At the Summit, the Nigerian President reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening anti-corruption reforms and bringing integrity to governance through leadership by example. He announced Nigeria’s commitment to Global Open Government Partnership principles and directed the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to implement the commitments made in London.

In July, 2016, the Federal Ministry of Justice, under the leadership of Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, organised a Stakeholders session on the OGP to identify members of the Steering Committee and to discuss the implementation framework of the OGP Principles. One of the highlights of the meeting was the self-selection of the Civil Society representatives at the Steering Committee. Subsequent meetings were held, where the Action Plan and other related issues were discussed.

For OGP to be operational in any state, such a state is required to implement commitments made by the state government; endorse a high-level Open Government Declaration; deliver a state action plan developed with public consultation (government and civil society); Commit to independent reporting on their progress and contribute to peer learning.

Now that the administration of Chief Emeka Ihedioha, pursuant to his electoral promise of entrenching good governance has commenced this journey, steps need to be taken to close the gaps identified in the process.

For the first time in eight years, Imo State annual Budget is online- on the state official website. This is part of the proactive disclosure obligations of the state government under the FOI Act. This, no doubt is a step in the right direction.

The giant strides of the Governor Emeka Ihedioha-led administration in the areas of ease of doing business and open contracting cannot also go without mention.

However, there is need for a stakeholders’ session for state and non-state actors on OGP implementation in the state. The need for members of the state steering committee to emerge cannot be overemphasized.

Again, pursuant to the commitments, there is need for efforts to be fast-tracked towards adopting the Freedom of Information Act in the State. The summary of commitments on Access to Information is implementation of the FOI Act in Imo State. Although the FOI Act is applicable in all states of the federation, having an Imo State version will further show the commitment of the present administration in Imo State to transparency principles.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the present administration in Imo State, led by Governor Emeka Ihedioha is committed to entrenching openness and accountability in governance. This indeed, is a new beginning for Imo State.

While we await a Letter from the OGP Nigeria National Secretariat, accepting Imo State’s application, the foundation needs to be laid for a smooth implementation of OGP principles in Imo State.

Steps need to be taken to make Imo citizens own the OGP process, to ensure effective implementation, lest it becomes another elitist initiative.

The time to act is now!

Dr. Walter Duru, a Communication expert is a member of the National Steering Committee of OGP, Nigeria, where he co-chairs the Access to Information Working Group. He also chairs the Board of the Freedom of Information Coalition, Nigeria.

Dates are very sweet, and do you know that they have lots of health benefits?

Well, here are the incredible health benefits of dates:

1-Good for the liver

Studies have shown that dates can help contain cirrhosis. This disease occurs when the liver does not properly treat toxins and produces too much collagen. Dates help your liver to perform its daily functions.

2- For a healthy heart

Dates have heart benefits. Thanks to its high potassium content, this fruit is perfect for counteracting cardiovascular diseases. It also helps lower cholesterol which is one of the leading causes of stroke and heart attack.

3-Better digestion

Many people already know it, but dates are very good for digestion. They prevent constipation, stomachaches and many other symptoms. With their “cleansing” effect, dates are effective for the prevention of bowel cancer. All of these characteristics are explained by their fiber and amino acid content. They optimize digestion and help the body better absorb nutrients.

4-Relieves the pains

This may be hard to believe and yet, the magnesium found in dates helps reduce pain and inflammation. Dates also have antibacterial properties and reduce infections. In any case, they are a very effective dietary supplement in parallel with regular treatment.

5- Good for the eyes

Dates contain a lot of vitamins A that promote the regeneration of the cornea and protect the eyes. They also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two nutrients that help the eye better filter out dangerous UV rays. In other words, dates help your eyes stay “fresh” longer and maintain their abilities.

What causes it?
Gum pain is a flaming issue that happens for a number of reasons.
It can be caused by something as simple as brushing too hard, canker sores, or wearing dentures, retainers, or braces. For women, it may be caused by hormonal changes, pregnancy, or menopause, and can happen around the time of your period.
Other times, gum pain may be a sign of a more serious oral health issue like thrush, gingivitis, or periodontitis.
Explore these different home remedies for quick gum pain relief. Make sure to also learn the difference between when you can simply and safely treat your gum pain at home, and when your gum pain means that you should see a dentist.

What works for gum pain?
If your only symptom is gum pain, try these treatments at home:

1. Saltwater rinse
Warm 1 cup of water on the stove (not to boiling — just warm) and pour into a cool glass. Add 1 tsp salt to the warm water and mix well. Swish and rinse in your mouth, spitting water out into the sink when finished (do not swallow).
The salt will help prevent the growth of bacteria in your mouth, and help decrease the bacteria on your gums which may be causing the swelling. Rinse with warm salt water at least twice per day until swelling subsides.

2. Compress
Try either a hot or cold compress to help reduce pain.
For a hot compress: heat water to a tolerable temperature (not boiling). Soak a clean cloth in the hot water, then squeeze out excess water and gently press the warm, damp cloth to your face near the area where your gum pain is occurring (not directly to your gums).
For a cold compress: wrap an ice pack in a clean cloth and apply in the same way as above. Use either method until pain subsides, or alternate between hot and cold until swelling and inflammation die down.

3. Herbal poultice
Certain herbs and spices can be turned into home remedies for gum inflammation and pain. Clove powder and Spilanthes are both analgesic or pain-relieving herbs. They have been used as alternative, traditional oral pain relievers for a long time. An anti-inflammatory powdered herb like turmeric may also help.
To use this treatment:
·Mix the powdered herb of choice with a little warm water until you have a paste consistency
·Apply directly to your gums until pain subsides
·Rinse your mouth with water
·Apply as often as needed.

4. Homemade dental spray
Dilute essential oils into a spray. For this treatment:
·Use a small clean spray bottle (that has never had any other product inside it) and add water
·Add about five drops of essential oils of choice per ounce of water
·Apply spray lightly to gums as needed
Oils like peppermint, oregano, and clove have natural pain-relieving, inflammation-reducing, and circulation-boosting properties.

5. Teabags
Take a fresh bag of tea and steep it in boiling water for up to five minutes, as you do to make tea. Then, when the tea bag is cool enough to touch, apply it directly to painful gums for at least five minutes.
Choose a tea high in astringent tannins, such as black tea, green tea, or even hibiscus tea. Or choose a tea that contains an anti-inflammatory herb, ginger or chamomile are popular examples. The anti-inflammatory herbs will soothe, while the tannins will absorb anything that irritates the gums.

6. Oral anesthetic gels
Medicated oral gels are available on the market. These contain natural and synthetic compounds that help numb and treat gum pain. Some even include pain-numbing compounds from botanicals like clove or Spilanthes.
Common over-the-counter brands include Orajel and Anbesol. Follow the instructions on the packaging.

7. Over-the-counter pain killers
Simple common painkillers and NSAID’s, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen can help in a pinch. If pain is stubborn and topical methods above (or others) are not working, give these options a try. You can use them on their own or in addition to topical home treatments. For dosage amounts, follow directions on the bottle labels.

When to see a doctor
Gum pain is often an isolated incident that can be easily treated or relieved.
In certain instances, your gum pain can be a symptom of a bigger oral health issue. See your doctor or dentist if your gum pain is:
·persistent
·intense
·interferes with eating or sleeping
·accompanied by other symptoms

By Samuel Itsede

The Senate on Tuesday received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari for an approval to pay Kogi State Government N10.069 billion being refund of money spent by the state on behalf of Federal government.

The request was contained in a letter dated 10th October, 2019 and read by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, during plenary.

The requested amount is for the settlement of inherited local debts and contractual obligations of the Federal Government to the State for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

President Buhari recalled that 24 out of 25 State Governments had received the approval of the National Assembly for the settlement of claims on projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

He added that the sum of N10.069 billion is outstanding amount due to Kogi State Government which is the only State yet to receive a refund.

The letter reads: “The Distinguished Senate President would recall that, based on my request for the Resolution of the National Assembly approving the establishment of a promissory note programme and a Bond Issuance to settle inherited Local Debts and Contractual Obligations of the Federal Government, the 8th National Assembly passed Resolutions approving the Issuance of Promissory Notes to refund State Governments for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

“The Resolutions of the 8th Assembly were conveyed through three different letters from the Clerk of the National Assembly as follows: Letter dated July 27, 2018 and referenced NASS/CAN/106/Vol.10/277 which approved the Issuance of Promissory notes to 21 states.

“Letter dated January 29, 2019 and referenced NASS/CAN/106/Vol.11/004 which approved the Issuance of Promissory Notes to Delta and Taraba States; and letter dated May 23, 2019 and referenced NASS/CAN/106/Vol.11/164 which approved the Issuance of Promissory Notes to Bauchi State.”

“The three Resolutions approved the Issuance of Promissory Notes to 24 out of the 25 State Governments requested, and the only State for which approval has not been given is Kogi State, with an outstanding claim of N10,069,692,410.15 (Ten billion, Sixty-Nine million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Two thousand, Four Hundred and Ten Naira, Fifteen Kobo).

“The Senate may wish to note that, subsequent to Resolutions of the National Assembly approving the refunds to the 24 State Governments, the Federal Government has issued Promissory Notes to all the approved States for the settlement of their claims.

“Accordingly, the Senate is hereby requested to kindly approve, the Issuance of a Promissory Note in the sum of N10, 069,692,410.15 as refund to Kogi State Government for Projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.”

The Senate President referred President Buhari’s request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts for further legislative work.

A breath of fresh air on a hot sunny day!

Prep Time
10 mins

Course: Beverage

Cuisine: Others

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

2 cups fresh orange juice
1 orange
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cups aerated water
1 tbsp ginger juice
2 tbsp honey
8-10 fresh mint leaves
ice cubes (optional)

Instructions

1. In a container add orange juice, lemon juice, ginger juice, and honey. Mix well till the honey dissolves.

2. Thereafter, cut an orange into half and then into thin slices.

3. To serve, divide the fresh orange slices and mint between 4 glasses. Add ice cubes if desired. Fill the glasses half with a blend of orange and lemon juice. Top it with cold aerated water. Serve cold and enjoy this refreshing drink!

To give this drink a more citrusy flavor, pulpy orange juice would be preferred. Furthermore, it would be better if this beverage is prepared well before it’s served as that will allow the lemon and orange juices to blend well with each other. If you’d like to have the juice fizzy, add soda just before you serve.

Note the quantity of the ingredients depends on the size of your family or guests
Ingredients:
Bananas
Orange or other suitable firm fruit
Coating batter
Deep fat for frying
Castor sugar
Grated rind of lemon or lime

Preparation:
Prepare first stage of batter and set aside for half an hour
Prepare fruit according to kind for example cut peeled bananas across in halves then lengthwise. Cover with castor sugar and grated rind and leave for 15 minutes
Heat the oil
Fold stiffly whisked egg white into batter
Dip one piece of prepared fruit into batter, remove with a spoon or skewer, allow superfluous batter to drain and drop the fruit in batter into fat. Remove small pieces of batter as these quickly burn
When golden brown, remove and drain. After the removal of one quantity, bring the fat again to the correct frying temperature before putting more into it.

Dredge fritters with sugar, serve very hot and quickly. If they are kept covered they quickly lose their crispness.

Launching a successful startup requires having a unique or distinctive idea, careful planning and a right execution of this idea. Although entrepreneurs learn a lot as they go, but being prepared from the outset through careful and strategic analysis and planning of your market will do you much good.

So, here are tips on how to attain a successful startup:

1. Have a unique selling proposition

Before you launch your business, it is important you make sure it will have a demonstrable point of difference from other products or services in your industry. If you don’t have a unique selling proposition (USP), then you will find you are selling pretty much the same types of products or services as your competition. Without a USP, you will find it challenging to build a customer base and generate enough revenue to stay afloat.

2. Be productive

When you’re launching and building a startup, you have to wear many different hats, constantly juggling a variety of tasks and responsibilities. As a result, you will dramatically increase your chance of success if you learn to be as productive as possible.

There are a number of ways you can increase efficiency. For example, it is best to keep in mind the 80/20 rule when it comes to your workload. That is, you will find that 80 percent of your most productive time comes from just 20 percent of the tasks you complete. As such, look for the 20 percent of jobs that will yield you the most results in your business, and focus on getting them done each day, week, month and year.

In addition, there are thousands of technological aids available to help you to increase your productivity. Check out apps and online systems that make it quicker and easier to do things such as:

Create and update databases and mailing lists
Send communications
Track leads, website visits and press mentions
Handle finances and human resources tasks
Complete administration jobs

3. Hire a good team

Surrounding yourself with a solid team is another important element of a successful startup. When you’re starting a business, it makes a big difference to learn from fellow entrepreneurs who have “been there, done that” before you. Try to find mentors, business consultants and other helpful people who can guide you and your venture over the coming months and years.

It is also imperative that when you have the funds to hire staff members and contractors, you select the right candidates for each job. As you grow, you not only want to have people in your team who are more versed than you in various areas of business, but who also display helpful traits such as adaptability, flexibility, a positive attitude and an eagerness to learn. These types of people are more likely to stay with you for the long haul, be open to tackling whatever needs to be done and will treat customers with care.