7 minute read
News 2-10
Group trains academic staff of Kadpoly on prevention of SGBV
From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Advertisement
Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative (EWEI) an (NGO), has sensitised members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter, on the prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
EWEI’s Programme Officer, Gender, Mr Mendie Jeremiah, at the opening session of the seminar in Kaduna, said that the orientation was under the “We for Them (WFT)” project.
Jeremiah, who is also the Secondary Focal Person, WFT, explained that the project was being implemented in partnership with Africa Women’s Development Fund.
He said the project was specifically aimed at decreasing the frequency of SGBV, with particular focus on sexual harassment and abuse in public spaces.
He said EWEI would be working with allies from ASUP, a male-dominated union of Kaduna Polytechnic to implement the project in the next two years.
He added that a total of 50 academic staff members was selected from five colleges of the institution to participate in the implementation of the project.
He identified the schools as College of Engineering, College of Science and Technology, College of Environmental Studies, College of Administrative Studies and Social Sciences, and College of Business and Management Studies.
“It is important to state that this project recognises the power, influence, and intellectual nature of the union as a strategic ally to reform.
“This will ensure the implementation of existing legal instruments that address sexual harassment in this institution.
“Together, we will speak out against this social problem that has prevented members of our communities from developing and using their full potential, especially women and girls,” he said.
He described sexual harassment as an “unwelcome, unwanted sexual advances,
claim by civil servant against property developer
By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
The judgement of Justice Othman Musa of a High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, has countered the claim by a staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Asabe Waziri, over the purchase of N130m property in Maitama district of Abuja.
According to a judgement of the court , sitting in Apo, in suit no. FCT/HC/CV/2435/2021, the court ordered Abeh Signature Limited, the property developer, to take possession of the property after the company filed a suit against Ms Waziri, alleging breach of contract sales agreement.
Contrary to allegation by Asabe Waziri that Mr Cecil Osakwe, the Managing Director of Abeh Signature Limited is holding unto her money after the court ‘s judgement, Mr Osakwe, through his lawyer, Mr Victor Giwa, said a cheque of N150m was immediately issued in her name.
Copies of the cheques were made available to our correspondent.
According to Ms Waziri, she entered into a contract to purchase two flats at Abeh Signature Apartments in Maitama but failed to meet the contractual agreements.
Abeh Signature Limited had dragged Ms Waziri before the court alleging breach of contract agreement on the part of Waziri in the purchase of the apartments.
Justice Musa of the court entered judgment in favour of the applicant as follows:
“That having regard to sections 1, 14 and 15 of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act and other relevant laws, the various payments made vide cash and sundry bank transfers made by the Defendant in favour of the claimant in respect of the contract for the purchase of two flats at Abeh Court is illegal and contrary to the aforementioned provisions of the money laundering laws.
“That in view of the way and manner or mods of payments employed by the Defendant on the purchase of the two flats at Abeh Court belonging to the Claimant, same has rendered the contract for the purchase of the properties void for violating money laundering laws.
“That the Claimant was right in terminating the contract it had with the Defendant for the purchase of the two flats at Abeh Court and offering a refund of the money paid so far for being void due te the contravention of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.
“That In view of tne termination of the contract for the purchase of the two flats at Abeh Court by the Claimant, the Defendant can no longer claim or exercise ownership over the said two flats.
Also, Asabe Waziri had accused Mr Osakwe of electricity theft but document made available to our correspondents revealed that the allegation was a a smear campaign to intimidate and harass Mr Osakwe.
Documents from Abuja Electricity Distribution Company show that electricity bills were paid monthly by Mr Osakwe, owner of Abeh Signature Apartments.
Documents for the payment of electricity bills were also sighted by our correspondent.
Contrary to claims by Ms Waziri, monies were paid for the consumption of electricity in the apartments.
Guild seeks improved incentives for doctors, health workers
National Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) on Tuesday appealed to government at all levels to create an enabling environment and provide attractive incentives for doctors and other health workers.
Dr Raymond Kuti, President, GMD said this in a communique issued at the end of the guild’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The theme of the AGM was ‘ Human Resource Management for Healthcare:Challenges, Strategies and Opportunities.’
He said attractive incentives could make doctors and health workers who had left the country come back home.
“Poor working conditions and weak infrastructure with chronic underfunding are compounding the issue with increased workload and overwork for those who remain in service.
“Limited career opportunities for advancement compounded by political interference and the lack of performance-based promotion. ” This leads to low morale and poor attitude amongst the health workforce and the pervasive challenging political climate and insecurity is an important reason for uninhibited brain drain,” Kuti said.
He said the lack of adherence to the Commonwealth Code of Practice for International Recruitment of Health Workers made it easy for other countries to recruit medical professionals with impunity.
Kuti said the guild had however identified strategies that can be adopted by government and private sector organisations to retain doctors in Nigeria and curb brain drain.
Kuti sai’: ”One of such strategies is for the organisations to provide career advancement programmes and opportunities by investing in training, learning and development programs to keep abreast of new innovations.
“Develop and implement enhanced health sector salary and incentives schemes especially in deprived areas to improve quality of life.
“Skills such as effective communications, resilience, leadership, emotional intelligence, empathy, and quality assurance management must be actively taught to health professionals-starting early in schools. ” This will also help to improve communication channels and provide effective, ethical leadership and governance in healthcare institutions,” he said.
Kuti also said the Human Resources (HR) management was imperative to ease burnout and minimize dissatisfaction while improving worklife balance for healthcare professionals.
He said solutions to mitigate or reverse brain drain among healthcare workers in Nigeria must be practical and adopt a systemic approach, adding, ”there are short and long-term strategies.”
Kuti said the large contingent of health workers in the diaspora was a pool of great resources that the nation can still benefit from through skills transfer, mentorship and the use of technology.
He urged that innovative approaches to increasing the pool of health workers available should be explored.
“This includes elimination of roodblocks such as licensing of doctors that discourage middlelevel doctors from coming back to Nigeria. ” Rehiring of retired physicians on retainership or contract hosis to fill in the gaps created by doctors who have left the country and to also use their wealth of experience to mentor younger doctors,” Kuti said.
He said the guild would engage with the government and all stakeholders in the implementation of the WHO policy on towns in advanced countries poaching healthcare workers from developing nations.
Kuti also said: ”The guild would promote multilateral negotiations between Nigeria and the key countries doctors and other health workers emigrate to so as to secure controlled emigration on more profitable terms for the country.
“Resuscitation of an abandoned exchange programme that allowed residents and other cadres of health workers to go overseas for a specified period for specialised training and then come back to give back.
“Likewise, Nigerian resident doctors in training in the diaspora should be able to come home for short, specialised training periods that will be counted as part of their training,” he said. (NAN)
