UPDATE- FG DENIES NEGLECTING MILITARY PENSIONERS

Abuja — MILITARY Pension Board, MPB, weekend, said that some people attacking the government over their non-capture by the board in its pension service were in no time served in the military, debunking rumours that the board refused to pay them their entitlements.The Chairman of the Board, Real Admiral Muhammed Mshelia who stated this in a press conference in Abuja however noted that 'some few among them actually served in the military, but never qualified for pension, because they did not serve up to the pensionable years upon retirement. Reacting to a media report featuring one Mr. Smile Markson who paraded himself as ex-soldier, the chairman explained that Markson had never been a soldier, and that, their record shows that he is using regimental number belonging to another ex-officer. According to a memo dated 9th of May, 2012 with reference number REC/G1/300/79 from Army Headquarter, "there are also no records to show that he (Smile Markson) ever served as a solder and discharged as claimed. Meanwhile, the regimental number 63NA/66930 which he claimed to be his does not belong to him but belong to ex-CPL Nimzing Iliya".

Culled from The Nigerian Vanguard Newspaper

HR SOFTWARE UNCOVERS EXCESS FUNDS AND GHOST WORKERS

The new payroll software, Integrated Personnel & Payroll Information System (IPPIS), implemented by the federal government has helped uncover N14 billion excess funds for salary allocated to the various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the country. The system has also discovered no fewer than 35,000 ghost workers in the nation's civil service. Coordinating minister for the economy/minister of finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the minister of state for finance, Dr. Yerima Lawal Ngama made these revelations during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance to the ministry in Abuja yesterday. Ngama said that MDAs have been submitting payroll voucher far in excess of the actual salary they pay, such that after payments have been made so much money would still be floating in the accounts of the MDAs. "We introduced the IPPIS computer software for capturing all the data of staff of MDAs. We have today covered 183 MDAs and discovered 35,000 ghost workers. We have saved government N14 billion. By the time we finish, all other government agencies, including the military, police, among others, the savings will be much more," he said.Speaking on the state of the economy, Okonjo-Iweala stressed that the country was not experiencing a financial crisis....According to her, the government was planning to borrow $7.9 billion from multilateral agencies on a medium term to 2014 at interest rate of 3 per cent and below. This, she said, would be used for very productive investment in agriculture, water resources, power, transport, education and health as well as to support the strengthening of governance.

The Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Dr. Abdulmumuni Jibril, expressed concern over the high budget deficit and tasked the ministry on ways to improve revenue and remittances accruing to the federal government.

culled from The Nigerian leadership Newspaper

hmmm...darling readers, what do you make of all this?

IS THERE STILL A PLACE FOR ETIQUETTE IN THE OFFICE? YES!

Over the course of our careers, we will learn new skills and spend money on training and professional development to remain relevant and employable. However, there are work skills that if you don’t have, can affect your employment negatively. One of them is your ability to conduct yourself in accordance to acceptable codes of conduct and behavior in the office collectively known as work etiquette.

Work etiquette encompasses far more than simply knowing which hands to hold your knife and fork at the office formal dinner party. It's more than a polite smile and a thank you when your colleague hands you something that you asked for. It incorporates all types of manners and behaviors including those that involve your work dealings which influence how you come across as an individual, how you relate to others both within your own organization and externally and how you make use of the tools with which you can communicate.  

While office and national culture breed unique codes of conduct observed in offices across the nation, it doesn’t change the importance of observing office etiquette. Work etiquette when used within the office can greatly improve the dynamics of your work relationships and impact positively on your productivity on the job. Listed below are some tips you can make use of:

1. ZIP IT Learn to think before you speak. Bite your tongue before that provocative remark comes out of your mouth and you find yourself embroiled in a fight.

2. SIT, WAIT, THINK AND ACT WHEN CORRECT. Whenever you have issues in the workplace, you're better off thinking through your words before you voice complaints, thoughts or suggestions.

3. LISTEN, DON'T DISPUTE. Sometimes your manager needs to tell you how disappointed he is with you. Sometimes your co-worker needs to go on a rant about how you "neglect" him or her. Sometimes your employee needs to express his or her resentment about the way you've treated them. You can't argue with feelings. But remember, listening doesnt mean absorbing and when it becomes personal, walk away.

4. DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT AND DOCUMENT AGAIN. Rule No. 3 having been followed, make sure you protect yourself with thorough documentation of any potentially volatile situation. This rule applies to people on both sides of the power structure. A smart employee as well as a smart manager will document issues that relate to self-preservation and the protection of their job/company.

5. CLEAR BOUNDARIES MAKE FOR GOOD WORK RELATIONSHIPS Create boundaries and set limits in the workplace. Know how much contact you can take and how much will ignite your internal nuclear bomb. Also, keep in mind that you don't know which one of your co-workers will be easily ignited, offended or wounded so it’s better to be proactive rather than reactive until you identify your more temperamental work mates.

6. CORDIALITY AND FRIENDLINESS After creating appropriate boundaries, make every effort to be cordial and friendly. Ask co-workers and supervisors about how they are; notice changes in their appearance in a complimentary way; comment upon the quality of their (good) work.

7. THOU SHALT NOT OVERREACT. EVER. When people feel neglected, they often will create a scenario that invites your overreaction. Overreactions cause all out wars and can get you into serious trouble so don't do it! Assess all disputes. Are they really worth fighting over?"  the answer more often than not will be no.

8. WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET. Learn to appreciate the differences between you and those around you. The more you understand your co-workers personalities, the better you get at working with them

9. STAY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. Take control of potentially volatile work situations and take charge of managing them strategize and evaluate the personalities you contend with and apply good people management techniques relevant to the people you live with during your workday.

Observing work etiquette is important because you are your own biggest ambassador/spokesperson at work. Always act with honesty and dignity. Be neat, clean and as conservative as the business requires you to be. Keep your interruptions of others to a minimum and always apologize if your intrusion is an interruption of a discussion, someone’s concentration or other activity. Show respect for other peoples’ workspace(s). Show appreciation for the courtesies extended to you.  make “Please; Thank you; You’re welcome”, part of your everyday vocabulary. Be discreet and compassionate in your criticism of a co-worker and never blame someone else for your own mistake(s) but do politely and firmly stand up for yourself whenever necessary.  

Have a great week everybody!!

UPDATE - MALPRACTICE SUIT BROUGHT AGAINST UNILEVER BY EX-STAFF

Ikeja — Four years after 63 workers of Unilever Plc were sacked, their expectation for the commencement of the case, yesterday, before an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, was dashed, due to change of counsel. The matter is before Justice A. Emeya. At the hearing, yesterday, a new counsel who replaced their old lawyer, informed the court that he had just taken over of the case and needed to study the case file as well as amend the claims earlier filed by the claimants. The workers, who dragged the company to court were relived of their duties on December 3, 2008, following which they approached the court, praying same to declare their sack, illegal. According to the new counsel, efforts by the Office of the Public Defender of Lagos State Ministry of Justice to resolve the issues relating to the claimant's employment failed, which led to the court action. The workers are praying the court to order the defendant to pay them N300 million as compensation for exemplary and aggravated damages, for the unlawful termination of their employments. They also want the court to grant them N900 million, being their outstanding entitlements as salaries, allowances and redundancy benefits due to them from November 2008 till period of judgment entered in their favour by the court.

Culled from The Nigerian Vanguard

NIGERIAN SENATE DISPLEASED WITH BAD RECRUITMENT PRACTICES IN THE TEACHING PROFESSION

The Senate yesterday fumed over the recruitment of casual teachers by federal colleges across the country. Adopting a motion on the plight of casual teachers in the education sector, the Senate mandated its Committee on Education to investigate the alleged recruitment of casual teachers. Earlier, the sponsor of the motion, Senator Andy Uba (PDP, Anambra South), raised the alarm that some teachers had been employed and teaching as casual teachers in the federal colleges across the country for over 11 years without their appointments being regularised. (haba, 11 years??!!) Senator Ahmed Lawan (ANPP, Yobe North), described the practice as disheartening. Senators Danjuma Goje (PDP, Gombe Central), Adamu Gumba (PDP, Bauchi South) and Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South) said employing casual teachers is a breach of educational policies.

Culled from The Nigerian Daily Trust

From a personal point of view, it is obvious that our labour laws need to be reviewed in order to ensure best practice  is maintained in the country. After all, everyone is allowed to have their own policies and procedures concerning recruitment but do we agree that there should be a standard? I mean 11 years!!! 

CRY TO THE GOVERNMENT - PLEASE PAY PENSIONS

Disturbed by the delay in the payment of the 53 per cent of 2010 pension arrears to them by the Federal Government, the military pensioners under the aegis of the Nigerian Military Pensioners Association yesterday made a passionate plea to President Goodluck Jonathan for the immediate payment of their entitlements.

In a statement signed by South-South chapter chairman of the group, Comrade Gabriel Oaikhena, and made available to LEADERSHIP in Ibadan, the military pensioners lamented that life has been very hard for them in the last few years.

"With deep sorrow in our heart, we are appealing to President Jonathan as our father to see reason with us as to why we should not be allowed to die uncared for, going by our past contributions while in active service as soldiers, especially during the 30-month Nigeria/Biafra civil war between 1967 and 1970 in which over 500,000 of our colleagues either lost their lives or became disabled," the pensioners said.

"The supreme sacrifice is enough evidence for every right thinking Nigerians, especially those at the corridor of power, to have sympathy for us by supporting our passionate plea for the payment of the 53 person pension arrears by the Federal Government.

"President Jonathan should endeavour to see that we are paid the arrears because we are tired of that language - 'very soon' as we see it as a language of deceit , neglect and marginalisation," the statement read.

They also pleaded with Jonathan to intervene in the payment of the monthly pension which in the last three months has been paid in arreas without any cogent reason by officials in charge.

Culled from the Nigerian Leadership Newspaper

HEALTH WORKERS SUSPEND PLANNED STRIKE ACTION

Ibadan — The national strike embarked upon by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) was on Monday suspended till July 31, with the National Executive Council of the union asking its members across the country to report at their duty posts.

Members of JOHESU include, the Medical and Health Workers Union, Nurses and Midwives Association of Nigeria, as well as NUPTAN comprising pharmacists, radiographers, physiotherapists, among others.

Addressing journalists at the end of a meeting of JOHESU national leaders in Ibadan, the president of the body, Comrade Felix Faniran said the suspension of the eight-day-old strike followed a thorough review of reports of the negotiating committee with the Federal Ministries of Health and that of Labour and Productivity, which showed signs of commitment from the Federal Government to the demands of the workers.

"In a bid to minimize the sufferings of Nigerians, the strike has been suspended till the end of July, when the Federal Ministry of Health and other Federal Government agencies concerned are expected to have met the workers demands," he said.

Culled from the Nigerian Daily Trust Newspaper

435 TEACHERS SACKED IN KADUNA REHIRED

The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday said the state government would reinstate the 435 teachers recently disengaged from service.

The teachers were disengaged for non-participation in the teachers' verification exercise carried out by the government and irregularities in their appointments.

Chairman of the union, Mr Audu Amba told newsmen in Kaduna that efforts were on to recall the affected teachers. He said already, the teachers have submitted their complaints to the state government as directed by the Head of Service. "The Head of Service has assured the union and the affected persons that the state government will soon release names of those cleared for reinstatement.

Culled from the Nigerian Daily Trust Newspaper

WHEN ARE YOU MOST PRODUCTIVE?

In an ideal world, we would always be motivated to work hard, be a good friend, be the perfect brother/ sister/ wife/ husband/mother/father and give our best to everyone and everything around us. In a perfect world, we would have all the food we need to keep us satisfied (in the right way) right at our fingertips, we'd exercise everyday and have so much energy we'd be jumping off the rooftops, and the world would work together to make your life more peaceful, tranquil, and happy. However, we don't live in a dream world or utopia but in the real world where so many factors, people, and things need our attention. Sometimes, we may yourself free, happy, and willing to do all we need to do, other times our energy levels may be low or we find ourselves being distracted or just not in the mood to do anything but stare into space.

Studies show that we all have peak productive times and that's absolutely fine.  Most times depending on how much sleep, rest, and nutrition we have, we will be energetic some time in the morning, slump after lunch and then get another energy boost sometime after lunch and before you go to bed. While it is important that if you are working for an employer or yourself, you remain productive during your work hours, it is important to note each one of has our own unique internal clock. For me (and this took me a very long time to accept) I am most productive at 12-2am...that's midnight to 2am!!! Although i know what to eat and do  if I need to work between 8am abd 12am, I am rest assured that if I need to work on something new, pending, or just need to get my creative juices flowing, I need to relax around midnight with my laptop and good music and i'll be good to go!!

Can I aks readers, do you know YOUR productive hours? Is it between 8am and 10am when its early in the day? Do you enjoy working right before lunch on an empty stomach that helps clear you eyes or do you love relaxing in the office around closing hour when the office is emptying out in order to take you time and get your work done?  if your answer to this question is, I dont know, it's perfectly okay but knowing your most productive period will help you achieve both personal official goals; carry out even the most difficult duties and responsibilities; and find time to get things done no matter how much work you have and how little free time you have. Just ask yourself the following:

• Think back to a time when you were achieving everything you set out to do for the day, what factors contributed to you being so productive?
• Can you remember the time this happened?
• Where you even in the office? or at home? or in a resturaunt? or on twitter? or chatting online?
• When do you normally get sleepy or bored?
• What factors cause you to become bored or sleepy besides hunger or fatigue? 

Take the rest of this week to figure out your most productive periods and time. When you find out, carry out some experiments and during those hours, tackle things you have been putting off or work on some goals you have but are yet to start. Do you find you are more productive? happier? better able to handle the things on your plate?


It is my sincere hope and belief that you will find your peak productive period and use this time to achieve your goals and accomplish your work in a more effective way.

have a great day!!

LOL CORNER

LOL CORNER