Saturday, February 2, 2013
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Finally, FG, Labour Resolve PHCN Workers Dispute
At last, the lingering labour issues between electricity workers and the federal government which began since 2010, has finally been resolved.
The resolution meeting which ended at about 11.20pm yesterday took place at the office of the Secretary to the federal government, Anyim Pius Anyim.
The parties agreed that total accrued pension as at June 30, 2007 shall be paid in accordance with the PHCN 2010 conditions of service.
It was also agreed that 25 per cent will be payable to existing PHCN staff while 75 per cent shall be paid into the retirement savings accounts (RSAs).
Furthermore, a “total accrued gratuity as at June 30, 2012 shall be paid in accordance with the defined benefit scheme stipulated in the PHCN 2010 conditions of service, 15 per cent pension contribution shall be paid from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2012 in accordance with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2004,” the agreement also showed.
It was also agreed that severance allowance shall be paid at 20 per cent of total accrued benefits among others.
Present at the meeting last night were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu, Minister of State for Power, Zainab Kuchi, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele, Secretary General of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) among others.
The Agreement was signed on behalf of the federal government by the SGF, while Esele and Ajearo signed on behalf of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
In his remarks, Esele noted that “now the government will have no more excuse that the union is preventing the reforms from working. We hope to see 24 hours power supply in Nigeria soon.”
Pray Obasanjo Does Not Endorse You
For those who knew the late Aro of Mopa and former principal private secretary to the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Chief Sunday B. Awoniyi - while he was alive,was a journalist delight: every responsible and responsive journalist wanted to engage him. If you are a journalist working for a weekly or periodic magazine, who depends on anecdote leads to tell good stories, you would be luckier to engage Awoniyi in a discussion on any issue – be it politics, economy or religious.
Extremely intelligent with enormous knowledge about anything under the sun, the late former super permanent secretary would take you through stories about one amazing event or the other while his public service lasted. And trust a good magazine journalist: he would always find the content of Awoniyi’ stories very useful, especially in a kind of news story that requires a combination of explanatory and exploratory writings. And I was one of the benefactors of his wealth of experience.
By his conduct and action, the former chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), detested dishonest politicians; he was very hostile to abuse of power by politicians especially by those who played God. From my experiences with him, Chief Awoniyi was not a friend to selfish politicians who derive joy in seeing the poor suffer. The good man died on November 28, 2007 as a result of injuries he sustained from an auto crash along the Abuja-Kaduna road while trying to negotiate many potholes along the expressway.
As a journalist with TheNews/Tempo magazines then, late Awoniyi was one of my reliable and trusted sources of information. He was ever ready to confide in me on many national issues, especially in those days of the numerous wicked and evil political and economic policies of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime which brought severe pains and hardship to longsuffering Nigerians.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Toolz’ Thoughts: Beware of Dream Killers! 7 Steps To Fulfilling Your Dreams
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. When you are seeking to bring big plans to fruition, it is important with whom you regularly associate. Hang out with friends who are like-minded and who are also designing purpose-filled lives. Similarly, be that kind of a friend for your friends.” - Mark Twain.
I love this quote! I stumbled across it a little while ago when I was looking for inspirational quotes, and it absolutely hit the nail on the head.
Can you remember the last time you were telling a friend or family member or even your partner about a dream, a goal you really wanted to achieve? It was probably something you were quite passionate about and talking about it with someone close to you. It got you in high spirits because you could already SEE IT. You could picture yourself opening the door to your new restaurant, salon, clothing store, etc.
The person you are talking to responds to what you’ve said, and your energy changes. You are not so excited any more… the vision you had of opening the door to your brand new establishment seems to fade and disappear. Your spirit now feels low, and that disappointed feeling seeps in and your self esteem drops. If this sounds familiar, know you are not alone. We all have encounters with Dream Killers.
Dream Killers aren’t necessarily bad people; neither are they haters. A Dream Killer could be that good friend/sister/brother/parent who has never really taken a risk on anything because they are terrified of failure. So naturally when you share your thoughts of starting your own business that would obviously involve taking a risk, they are quick to dissuade you with care. They might say things like ‘that will never work in Nigeria‘, ‘I don’t think you can do it‘, etc.
I personally feel it’s important to seek advice from the right kind of people. I’ve been in the Nigerian entertainment industry for just 3 years, and for the first 18 months the rate at which my dreams were being shut-down was stupendous. I’d have an amazing idea, talk to a few people about this amazing idea and before the end of the day, I’d be so depressed because my idea had been stomped on and mortally crushed. It wasn’t like the people I would talk to didn’t want me to do well, far from it…they just couldn’t see my vision.
After a few more months of dream crushing, I decided that I had had enough. I thought about what I wanted to achieve career-wise, and researched people in and out of the industry that I admired. I had role models in and out of Nigeria that I studied and when I got a chance to meet one or two in Nigeria, I must have tired them with my never-ending questions, but hey when it comes to chasing my dreams I’m like a rottweiler!
In my life I have encountered 2 types of Dream Killers – the accidental Dream Killers who care about you, but will unknowingly discourage you from chasing your dreams, and the deliberate Dream Killers who are basically unhappy in their own (most likely) unsuccessful lives, and really don’t want to see you progress.
I’ve learnt that on the journey to achieving your dreams (and greatness) you need to possess the following tools (excuse the pun):
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Pat Obahiagbon appointed Gov Adams Oshiomhole's Chief of Staff
Nigerian Politician Olusola Saraki Is Dead
Dr. Saraki died in his sleep at his Camera road home in Ikoyi Lagos according to family sources.
Dr. Saraki will be buried today in Ilorin at 4pm Nigerian time according to Muslim rites.
Dr. Saraki will be buried today in Ilorin at 4pm Nigerian time according to Muslim rites.
Nkiru Silvannus Responds to Sack Rumour...I was Transfered Not Sacked
Nkiru Silvannus
SSA Public Affairs
Nominees Unveiled for Light-Up Awards
Organisers of the maiden edition of the annual Light Up Awards scheduled to hold later this month have released the names of nominees for the awards.
The award, according to the national coordinator of Project Light-Up Nigeria, Mr. Frank Ukpabi,is designed to recognise, appreciate and encourage public office holders, corporate entities and private citizens who are contributing to a Nigeria of steady electricity power supply and well-lit up streets at night based on the age-long proven norm that encouragement leads to more achievement.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Nigerian Teenage Girls Develop a Urine-Powered Generator
Four teenage girls, Duro-Aina Adebola (14), Akindele Abiola (14), Faleke Oluwatoyin (14) and Bello Eniola (15) have stunned the country with their invention of a urine powered generator at this year’s Maker Faire Africa, an event which shows off innovations, inventions, and initiatives that solve immediate challenges and problems, and then works to support and propagate them.
How it works:
- Urine is put into an electrolytic cell, which cracks the urea into nitrogen, water, and hydrogen.
- The hydrogen goes into a water filter for purification, which then gets pushed into the gas cylinder.
- The gas cylinder pushes hydrogen into a cylinder of liquid borax, which is used to remove the moisture from the hydrogen gas.
- This purified hydrogen gas is pushed into the generator.
- 1 Liter of urine gives you 6 hours of electricity
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
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