CELEBRATING GIRL POWER: FAB, FIERCE, AND FEMALE!!

Today and for the next few days, I want to celebrate all the gorgeous yummy and fabulous females! More often than not and for reasons I cant understand (and hope to never understand) Women seem to be each others' worst enemies. But I today I am here not to gossip, lament, or share horror/war stories but to celebrate

GIRL/WOMEN/LADIES POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the last couple of weeks, I've met and made friends with some fantastic ladies; had my sisters offer funny, candid or much needed advice; and learnt so much from lunches/coffee breaks with my best friends. It's brought me happiness, a strong network, and in some cases some financial rewards :) So why won't I celebrate my lovely ladies!

I want to remind us that being a working mum; stay at home mum; single and successful career woman, or an independent entrepreneur/business owner is fantastic, challenging and rewarding. The opportunities we have as women are now practically limitless and while we may have to push harder to tear down the walls in our way, the world is open to us to pursue our dreams, goals, and targets (should we choose to do so. Research shows that women are breaking down barriers at work, entering the political arena, and creating value with the enterprises and endeavours we engage in.

#Fact, did you know that while about 65 percent of both sexes say they are satisfied with their jobs, it typically takes a lot less money to get women to say they are satisfied with their work than it does to get men to say it. Ladies do you know what this means? We as women, should we choose to, have a much higher ability to be blissed out, happy, and satisfied on the job!! That's how awesome we are. However, ladies, we all know that being a successful mum, wife, sister, daughter, worker, and boss involves us being pulled in so many directions, juggling a variety of responsibilities and sometimes even losing ourselves in the process. The sad reality is while more women are doing more than ever before, a lot more of us are susceptible to being depressed, fatigued, and stressed out at work. Bliss, satisfaction, joy and happiness on the job is not a pipe dream out of our reach but a living breathing reality that can be yours now. My name is Nkoyo Efretei, HR and lifestyle consultant and i am dedicated to helping women find happiness in their careers and businesses. Over the next few weeks, I hope to help your achieve bliss by sharing events with you, teaching you how to de-stress, activate a new and successful chapter in your life, and building your business brand in a cost effective manner. We will also be answering some guest questions sent to us by you our readers.

The aim is to ensure I share information relevant to us dynamic females living, loving, and working in Nigeria. So today take out a little time to celebrate you, your sisters, friends, moms, grand mums, colleagues....every single yummy woman in your network and family. The sisterhood is a wonderful thing, let's celebrate it!!!

All my love

Nikky

HURRAH!! GUEST ARTICLE: OFFICE PEOPLE

happy Tuesday everyone!

 

Please help me give a warm welcome for our guest blogger Chioma, An amazing new media specialist who is doing great things here in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom. Enjoy!

 

 

I’ve been working for a little over seven years now, and honestly? Every day is different. New staff, new challenges, new achievements...every day is just different. I’ve been excited at some jobs, I’ve been tortured at others (not literally of course), and for some others I’ve counted down till it was time to move on.

Recently I started a short term consultancy at a government commission, doing New Media stuff (which I do very well by the way). One of the first things I noticed in the first few days I spent there was that the civil service is (with all due respect) a place where creativity is slaughtered, roasted, and then eaten. Bureaucracy holds the knife, ‘memos and minutes’ roast, while the humans eat.

I remember asking the head of one of the units on a Tuesday evening to get something done for me by the next day, and he agreed. The next day I asked, ‘where’s the deliverable I asked for’ and he said, ‘I didn’t know you meant this tomorrow’. What! Is there any other definition of ‘tomorrow’ besides Wednesday coming after Tuesday? *sighs*

Very quickly, I’ll run you through seven classes of people you’ll find in an office; drawing from some people I’ve met in my short working life. Who knows, I might just mirror you! Ready?

1. SID THE SLOTH - if you watched the ‘Ice Age’ trilogy you should be giggling by now and if you haven’t, you definitely can sort out the definition of ‘sloth’. Lazy! Indolent! Lethargic! Sluggish! Won’t lift a finger even if the organization’s existence depended on it! How did they get the job? Dunno, could be from the ‘quota system’ business, or even worse, the HR manager obeying ‘orders from above’. Either way double (or even triple) sigh! Especially since most times, sloths are in sensitive positions so you’ll always need them!


2. MR (or MRS) KNOW-IT-ALL - yes, this class. So I’ll give it to them, they are right 96% of the time. My issue is the haughtiness, the puffed up shoulders and the absolute disregard for the thoughts and opinions from everyone else. These are the ones you pray will make a mistake (don’t even act like that hasn’t been you praying that prayer). And you know the best part of their day? When they rub it in your face that they were right (and you were, well…….slightly off the mark) about something, in front of the boss of course.

3. TIMEKEEPER – people in this class are great. They are polite, do their work well, function ok in a team, can work with little or no supervision, are outgoing and have a great personality. By the way if what you’re reading is a paragraph in your CV, sweetheart it needs redoing! One catch about these guys though; they won’t lift a finger before the start of work or a minute after official working hours. Why? The company isn’t paying for their time then. Simple as that.


4. THE FOOLISH – another cadre of the ‘I-only-got-this-job-as-a-favour-to-my-dad’ people, they give definition to the Ecclesiastes 10:15 “the labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to the city”. Now, these guys want to help, they always seem to have ideas et al, but they are always wrong! It just feels like everything they touch turns into a disaster! Have you caught yourself hiding stuff (an idea/implementation strategy) from a co-worker because you just know they’ll ruin it? And it’s not out of spite, or because they just want to make everyone’s job difficult, they are just ……… (put in the first word that came to your mind)!

5. ZEUS – Boss. The Big boss of all the bosses. That one you fear. Definitely not your peer/colleague. The one all of you strive to please; the one who has a say on the renewal of your contract. That one. Enough said.


6. THE IDEAL – this person is all that and a bag of chips (and a coke too, if you like coke). They are helpful, warm, happy to go above and beyond to get the job done, come in early, leave late kind of people. They’re always smiling, courteous; I could go on and on and on. And yes, they’ve won ‘staff of the month’ every month you’ve been there. Everyone loves them (even you….sometimes).


7. YOU – describe yourself in the comments section; feel free to incorporate all or some of the classes, as long as you’re honest!

Bio

 

Chioma is a New Media Specialist; her background is in radio, having worked as a duty continuity announcer and presenter for various radio stations before moving on to work as a researcher, scriptwriter, producer, and director of radio drama for the BBC World Service Trust in Nigeria. Chioma is intrigued by social media and how it affects/influences governance as well as its relationship with concepts of social capital, open data, and intelligent/big societies. Her company, CC Consulting, specializes in  

• Conducting audits for companies based on product, location, and target audience
• Creating bespoke social media solutions
• Hands-on monitoring and technical support
• Content development and production for radio and television programmes

A poet and contributor to various media (tweeting from @chiomachuka), Chioma is the Fairy GodSister on the blog www.fairygodsister.wordpress. com and does professional work atwww.chiomachuka.com 

AGAIN, PHCN Workers Threaten Strike

Ekiti Workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN , Ado-Ekiti Business Unit, have threatened to down tools over alleged brutalisation of some of their colleagues by aides to the Governor.PHCN Marketing Manager, Mr. Julius Ige, and the Public Relations Manager, Mr. Ilori Brown, espectively, were allegedly abducted and taken to Government House where they were said to have been beaten for allegedly disconnecting power supply to Government House. They were allegedly abducted from their houses last Friday evening and kept at the Government House until 1.15 a.m. on Saturday. The state government is allegedly owing PHCN N15 million, debt for four months.But the state commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Funminiyi Afuye, absolved officials of the state from the inhuman treatment.

The commissioner said the present administration had paid over N158million to PHCN debt owed by previous government. Afuye argued that the present government would not support any act of brigandage in any form.Recounting his ordeal in the hands of aides to the governor, PHCN image maker, Mr Jones said his only offence was that PHCN disconnected power supply to Government House.

Culled from the Nigerian Vanguard Newspaper

Nigeria: First Bank Sacks 600 Staff

First Bank yesterday sacked over 600 of its workforce. This brings to 5,600 the total number of employees of various banks across the country sacked in the last three weeks.

The Daily Trust gathered that the exercise is nationwide and most affected staffs are those that have put in between 25 and 30 years. Some of the affected workers, it was learnt, were given their sacked letters yesterday morning. But First Bank's spokesman Babatunde Lasaki told Daily Trust that though the number of affected workers was not up to 600, the exercise was carried out in line with best international practices. He said some of the staff took the window of voluntary exit open by the bank to leave the bank because the bank offers special reward to those workers who decided to take the option.

Last week, Sterling Bank sacked 400 while Mainstreet Bank offloaded over 650 of its workers.

President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions(ASSBIFI), Comrade Olusoji Salako, expressed displeasure over the rate of sack of its members, saying 5000 of its members were retrenched in the last three weeks.

Culled from the Nigerian Daily Trust Newspaper

Banks are unfortunately making hard decisions regarding staff in order to stay open to us, their customers. Do you agree or disagree?

EMPLOYMENT CREATION CONCEPT IN NAMIBIA

Due to the fact that the unemployment rate is very high, Penta Stream Investments took it upon itself to come up with an employment creation concept, called Penta Gold, to meet government half way in terms of job creation. Penta Stream Investments is a Namibian consulting company that was founded in 2010. Speaking at the recent launch of the investment company, Erastus Nekomba said they have realised that the majority of Namibians have business ideas, but they don't know how to implement them, neither do they have funds to implement them nor the necessary skills. The employment creation concept Penta Gold was launched to help address these shortcomings. Penta Gold offers free business training and interest-free economic development loans. According to Nekomba, Penta is a private sector initiative established to complement government efforts toward economic development through the integration of SME's and helping to build their productive capacity through training and funding. "We provide free business development training and interest-free economic development loans to our registered members," he noted. Nekomba says jobs are hard to find and government's efforts alone are not sufficient to sustain economic growth. "At such critical times as these, private-sector initiatives are the most viable alternatives for economic investments," said Nekomba. "Creating private sector partnership with relevant stakeholders such as the community at large is the only way to ease economic pressure off the shoulders of the common citizen," he said.

Culled From New Era Newspaper

Good to see the focus on job creation through empowering individuals and supporting small businesses and entrepenuers spread right across the continent.

MASS SACK LOOMS IN PENSION SECTOR iN NIGERIA

Fear of job loss is currently brewing among staff of the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) in the country as deadline given to them to raise their capital base from N150 million to N1 billion expires tomorrow, Daily Trust learnt. Daily Trust gathered that while some PFAs have met the minimum shareholders' fund of the recommended N1 billion, many others may be forced to merge or be acquired by others that are bigger. The National Pensions Commission that regulates the pension industry said it would not extend the deadline. "There is no extension. Those that are not able to recapitalized may have their operating license withdrawn or their assets transfered to other PFAs," a senior management staff of PenCom who does not want his name in print said. Management of PFAs are refusing to comment on the issue, saying people should wait till the deadline expires. An official of Legacy Pension told Daily Trust that the company has surpassed the minimum capital base of N1 billion but is not thinking of acquiring any other PFA. But a senior management staff in the corporate communication department of Premium Pension Administrator who sought not to be named said the firm's shareholders' fund as at December ending 2011 was N1.3 billion. The staff said Premium is considering acquiring any PFA that approached them. "We are open for that. Some PFAs have approached us but nothing has been worked out yet." A staff of one of the PFAs said the fear of job loss in the sector is because of the experience that workers in the banking sector had when some of them were acquired or merged. Daily Trust recalls that many bank workers lost their jobs during the period of recapitalizing. Some banks are still retrenching. Last Friday, the management of Mainstreet Bank sacked 650 staff while Sterling Bank sacked 400 workers on Tuesday.

Culled from The Nigerian Daily Trust Newspaper

NIGERIAN PENSION FRAUD: SENATE TO SUMMON MAINA AGAIN

THE Senate disclosed, yesterday, that it will again invite the chairman, Pension Taskforce Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, to get more information on the mismanagement of N273.9 billion pension fund. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Chairman of the Senate Committee that investigated the pension scam, Senator Aloysius Etok, who noted that a fresh letter of invitation would be sent to Maina today, stressed that this became imperative based on the resolution of the Senate. Etok who noted that Maina was expected to appear before the committee this week, warned that if he fails to appear, a warrant of arrest would be issued against him. Etok, who declined comments on specific issues for which Maina would be grilled, said: "The decision to summon him again is in consonance with the resolution of the Senate." It would be recalled that the Senate Joint Committee on Public Service and Establishment and States and Local Government Administration had recommended, among other things, that Maina and all members of his team be arrested and prosecuted by the police for "the crimes of embezzlement, fraud, misappropriation, misapplication, illegal virements, contract splitting, award of contracts to non-existing companies, outright stealing of police pension funds, among others". The Senate also recommended that the team be immediately disbanded "as its continued existence and usurpation of statutory functions and violation of extant laws was illegal as also recommended by the two former Heads of Service, Chief Steve Oronsanye and Prof. Adedapo Afolabi as well as the incumbent, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali."

Culled from The Vanguard Nigerian Newspaper

NEW MONTH AND IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR

Hi y'all!!

I've been reflecting. It's the middle of the year and normally this is not a time for deep reflection for me. Don't get me wrong, I normally spend days perfecting my new year's resolutions list (how i love to write lists...but that's a story for another day)and action lists for the upcoming year. I'm also one of those people who relishes TICKING OFF MY TO DO ITEMS WHEN COMPLETED lol, so when I create my new years resolutions, believe me when I say i intend to accomplish every single thing there. Most times at the end of the year, I realise with satisfaction, I've grown both as a person and at work and have been able accomplish a few of the things but today I'm thinking, how much more would i get done if i consult my life plans and new year's resolution the way I do with my daily to do lists? How many things would I say Yes, I did it!! if i took out just a few days in July, August, and September in order to see how far off track I am. Would I have lost that last 12 pounds instead of adding an additional 10 pounds??? Would I have gone on vacation with money I made, rather than having a vacation be a side benefit of  the last weekend spent on a business trip? Would I have clients/customers for my first major event rather than those I met  at other people's events? The whole of this week, I am reviewing my year's resolutions and breaking out of my comfort zone by taking both business and personal endeavors to the next level. My blog will be improved on, proposals sent out on turbo speed, and plan's for my partner company CAREERNATION will kick off with a bang.

Why don't you join me and dust of your new year's resolution list. Have a look at what you wanted to achieve by the end of 2012 and let's see what we can accomplish between now and December. God give us life, let's both celebrate the end of 2012 looking back at all we have done to change our lives and the lives of people around us.

have a great day!

Nikky The HR Agony Aunt.

HAPPY NEW MONTH AND A THOUSAND APOLOGIES FOR MY SILENCE!!

 happy new month wonderful readers and followers!!!

Its been a long minute since I last wrote and I want to personally apologize to each and every one of you for being away from my blog for so long. I broke a cardinal rule of mine which is to never allow anything get in the way of keeping my readers informed about HR news in Africa, sharing my thoughts, and interacting with my readers. Work has been pretty hectic, in both good and to be honest, not so good ways. A lot of demands have been made on my personal time, and unfortunately my endeavors suffered. However, I’m determined not to let that happen again and this week I’m going to practice what I preach. As much as I have projects ongoing for people, I am going to ensure that my blog, upcoming presentation, and free trainings that I intend to organize get done.

How many of my readers have been facing this challenge in the days, weeks, months, and even years that have passed? How many of us have put what we are were on the back burner, and are now afraid to resume what we love to do or simply feel the opportunity for us has come and gone? I’m here to tell you it hasn’t.  If you are reading this, God has given you life, and he did it for you to fulfill your purpose, never forget that!! Today is a brand new day, in a brand new week to start that blog, open that account, run that free training clinic, start that make up school, attend an event or a seminar

Practical steps I took to ensure this include:  I am connected to the internet 24/7, am leveraging on a number of new media technologies to link my various accounts; and I will be updating my blog, facebook, linkedin, and twitter according to a set timeline. How about you? What are the simple steps you can take to start dust off that project you have that’s grown cold resting on the back burner of YOUR life? Is it just a matter of signing up to twitter, ensuring you update your facebook status on your way to work, or even just network to make new friends and business relationships. I’m here as your personal cheerleader to tell you, YOU CAN DO IT!!! Let’s both start reliving our purpose along side everything else going on. You’ll be happier & content before you know it.

If you have any questions or just want free friendly advice on how to start on a long forgotten project, please do not hesitate to buzz me on insitefulsolutionsconsult@gmail.com

Have a great week everyone!

Regards,

Nikky

GOOD NEWS!! CALABAR STATE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT SALARY INCREASES FOR IT'S TEACHERS

Special Adviser to the Cross River State Governor on Labour Matters, Sam Mbang Oju, has said that the 12 percent salary increase promised teachers in the state will soon be implemented just as the N17 million arrears of the weigh-in allowance owed members of the Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state will be paid soon. Speaking in Calabar yesterday, Oju urged workers and Labour leaders in the state to embark on training and retraining sessions to ensure an effective workforce. He further said that the new low tax regime promised by Governor Liyel Imoke will be fast tracked to provide succour and make the take-home-pay package a living wage.According to him, the dilapidated structure currently housing the NLC secretariat will be renovated to afford the body a conducive environment to co-ordinate the activities of its affiliates.

Culled from The Nigerian Daily Trust Newpaper