No cabal has hijacked my government, Buhari tells Saraki

President Muhammadu Buhari has faulted Senate President Bukola Saraki over his claim that a cabal has hijacked the government.

Buhari in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said the allegation was a mere invention of Saraki and “is not even worth the paper on which it was written, as anybody can wake from a troubled sleep, and say anything”.

According to the President, “This claim by Senator Saraki would have been more worth the while, if it had been backed with more information. If he had proceeded to identify those who constitute the ‘government within the government,’ it would have taken the issue beyond the realm of fiction and mere conjecture.

“But as it stands, the allegation is not even worth the paper on which it was written, as anybody can wake from a troubled sleep, and say anything.

“The Attorney-General of the Federation is the Chief Law Officer of the state. It is within his constitutional powers to determine who has infringed upon the law, and who has not.

“Pretending to carry an imaginary cross is mere obfuscation, if, indeed, a criminal act has been committed. But we leave the courts to judge.

“To claim that President Muhammadu Buhari is anybody’s stooge is not only ridiculous, but also preposterous. It is not in the character of our President”.

Buhari was reacting to Saraki’s claims after he was charged before a Federal High Court in Abuja, for allegedly forging the Senate rules used for his election and that of his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, last year June 9.

Saraki, who boasted that he was ready to go to jail, said what was going on right now portended danger for Nigeria’s democracy, because in his view, the independence of the legislature had been jettisoned with the alleged forgery trial.

Senate Commends Labour Minister’s intervention on Bank retrenchment

The Senate has commended the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige for his proactive intervention in the on-going retrenchment in the banks and other financial institutions and gave firm support to his decision on dialogue with all social partners as the only option to the peaceful resolution of the industrial disagreement in the sector.

“I sincerely commend the federal government for being willing to work with the banks to find a common solution to this issue of retrenchment, which affects almost every family in Nigeria. I am grateful that all of us have all agreed to dialogue and I implore you to do justice to all issues before the stakeholders’ summit is convened in July. I therefore appeal to everybody to be humble and to be open in our different positions at the talks,” says the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking and Finance, Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim at the Public hearing on the emerging issues in the financial sector over the weekend.

“I am happy with the explanation of the Hon. Minister on the issue of bank licenses, that he did not threaten that the Federal Government would withdraw their licenses; that it was a case of misrepresentation. That gives a convivial atmosphere for all the social partners to freely dialogue and peacefully resolve all issues,” Senator Ibrahim added.       

In his presentation, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige said that all the steps he has so far taken on the issue were in defence of the constitution and the labour laws as well as to safeguard the interests of all parties while ensuring peaceful industrial milieu for enhanced productivity in the sector.

“The constitution is the supreme law of the land. The constitution is aware that we are in a society where all of us will not be equal and that everybody must be protected – big and small. That is why in sections 14, 15 and 16 and even 17, it protects the employer, the economy and the workers.

“It is from these provisions that the National Assembly enacted the labour laws to guide all of us on how to deal with the issues of employment.  So, all that my ministry has done is to execute and protect these laws from infractions. I acted in good faith to protect the interest of all.”

Sen. Ngige cited petitions from the unions in the Financial sector which border on unwholesome practices, the height of which was mindless retrenchment as the immediate reason for his intervention, directing all the parties; the bank employers and the unions to maintain the statuesque ante-bellum through a press release on June 5, 2016, pending the resolution of the disputes.

  

“We intervened in the spirit of collective bargaining. We got petitions from NUBIFE on casualization, contract staffing, poor remunerations which is not in conformity with equal work, equal pay in our constitution, ill human conditions of service, rampant termination without due compensation and resistant to unionization contrary to section 40 of the constitution.  We investigated these and found them true in some banks. We invited the concerned banks; they gave excuses on why they won’t honour the invitation while they continued with retrenchments.     

“I know my rights as Minister of labour and I will exercise those rights for the benefits of Nigerians, high and low. It is within my power to declare a truce in any industrial crisis. That was why I asked the banks; don’t retrench further and the unions; don’t picket the banks so we can sit down to resolve the issues.  The labour law on redundancy says in article 20 that if you negotiate redundancy and a party is dissatisfied, the Minister has the right to intervene.

“The law makes provision for the employer is to disengage a worker if he cannot actually run his enterprise efficiently and effectively with a big load of staff in which case, he will declare redundancy but it states clearly the process for doing this. It says you must engage the labour unions in that industry and if it gets out of hand, the local unions will report to their national union. If they can’t resolve this, the parties, unions or the banks will refer it to the Minister of labour for conciliation.”

  

The Minister further dispelled the impression that the Federal Government was interfering in the running of private businesses.

“We are not interfering in their business. They are there to make money and protect their investments and nobody is against this. But don’t forget that individual Nigerians are also investors in these banks. So they are not the only investors. I have my own shares in these banks and they pay me dividends, which I am pleased with. However, I will not be party to drawing dividends on the blood of helpless Nigerians. The banks can save some of these low cadre jobs by re-adjusting the heavy perks at its top management cadre. We pleaded same with the major oil companies and it worked.”  

Speaking on unionization in the banks, the Minister added that the only institution in the Financial sector where staff members are exempted from unionization is the Central Bank and that no other bank in the country had the right to prevent its staff from forming a union.

“Unionization according to the constitution and labour laws is the right of workers. There are exemptions and the institutions that are exempted are clearly listed. Here, it is only Central Bank that is exempted in the banking sector. And the law says again that the Minister of labour in his wisdom can grant a waiver to any institution. I have not granted waver to any bank and I will not grant such,” Ngige concluded.

IG Appoints Don Awunah as New Police Spokesperson

The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Ibrahim K Idris, psc, mni has appointed DCP Don Awunah, fsi, as the new Force Public Relations Officer to replace ACP Olabisi Kolawole who was the Force Public Relations Officer from August 2015 to June, 2016.

Until his new assignment, DCP Don Awunah, who is a seasoned and thoroughbred officer, was the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Homicide Section of Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) Abuja. He holds B.A degree in Philosophy from the University of Lagos and M.A in International Relations and Strategic Studies from Benue State University, Makurdi. He is a Fellow of Institute of security Studies (fsi), Fellow of Institute of Corporate Administration, and Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

The outgoing Force PRO, ACP Olabisi Kolawole urged the media and the public to extend maximum cooperation to the new Spokesman, just as the new FPRO promised to work to increase the tempo of good relationship between the Police and the public in line with the policy thrust of the Nigeria Police Force.

Brand Expert, Paul Inyang speaks on Megapluxglobal success story

Paul Inyang, CEO, Megapluxglobal

 

 

 

Paul Inyang sits atop Megapluxglobal, one of the leading Point of Sales Materials Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria. The top brand strategist in this interview with WALE ABIODUN speaks on various issues including how his company became a success story, the practice of outdoor branding in Nigeria and what it takes to be a productive manager in the industry. Excerpts.

How did you get into outdoor branding business?

My name is Paul Inyang, I am the Managing Director/CEO of Megapluxglobal. We are POSMs Production Company that is Point of Sales Materials Manufacturing Company. These are the materials any company needs to enhance its market presence and the sales spot in the market place, when you talk about outdoor bill board, all materials that carry advertising ideas in the market. It increases the awareness and the market share; it also increases interaction with customers. I got into this business by destiny, I got into the business some years ago, I had a calling and I went into it. We are grateful today our business attracts multinational line. We have delivered many iconic productions. We are making values within our industry; we are now producing materials that were being brought to the country in the past.

Can you tell us some of your notable clients?

I don’t like talking about my clients, but if you mention ten, I will take seven clients.

What is the experience like in the beginning?

Just like every other businesses, it had its own challenges, it had its own up and down. In business you need to be consistent and you need to believe in what you are doing. You need to remain focused in your vision to see with your heart what your eyes cannot see. Presently, we are quite experienced; we are still growing and still experiencing some challenges.

How will you describe outdoor branding business at the time you started and now?

The business is now improved compare to what is obtainable in the past; the business is now more of internet and online focused. When we started ten years ago, there were more bill boards with paintings; it is now more sophisticated with LG screen and more of internet. The market is becoming more competitive, customers and brand now looking for cost effective ways to reach their customers. We have created phenomenon changes globally not only in Nigeria.

What is the key to Megaplusglobal success story?

We have remained focused and consistent with what we are doing; we have been tenacious to deal with any challenges. We believe nothing is impossible and we have been producing products that have not been producing in Nigeria before.

What is your management style?

I run an open door policy; we relate as friends and have same vision to achieve our goals and purpose. When we see a common purpose, we attack it together. All hands on deck to achieve that goal.

What is the strength of the organization?

Our strength has always been our consistency, we are very determined, we don’t give up, and we believe everything is possible. We have the audacity and believe that we can achieve it. Every business has its own weakness like the economy in the country now which is not well organized.

Have you always wanted to be an outdoor brand strategist in the beginning of your career?

I have been consistent, after my higher institution education I only worked for a year. The answer is yes, I always want to be a business person. After my NYSC, the thing was telling me that my calling is in doing business. Since I discovered my plan I did not look back since then.

Do you have any role model in the industry?

There are people that have done great things in the industry, we want to be like them and want to be in that competition. I have role models; I don’t want to mention names.

What is the relevance of outdoor branding to marketing communications?

Outdoor branding is still within marketing Communication. We should be able to interact, interpret the strength within the economy to understand the behavior of consumers and must be ready to form an opinion and strategy to create creative services to attract customers. An outdoor is one of the outlets of marketing communication. We can express it through outdoor, indoor, POSMs or through bill boards. Marketing communication is the hub of all channels to reach consumers of various services and products.

Let’s talk about some of the award you have received for the company in the past?

Recently we won an award organized by Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology in 2015; we are the best POSMs marketing company. We are very honoured, we never knew the award was coming. The award was given to us by an institute in Abuja. We turn down awards if we feel that the source is not credible enough. Recently I was awarded a PhD. I said why given me a PhD? As a company we tenaciously committed to do things and get merits. We have been getting awards and very happy about the clients base we are able to attract.

As a successful entrepreneur in the country, what is your advice to Nigeria youths?

My advice to them is to be patient, to put service first before money. You cannot eat what you don’t have. If you sow excellence, you get excellence. The problem with Nigeria youths is that they want to do things fast, fast. They want to sow and get results now. Hard work pays. For pregnancy to birth you need to take nine months, you cannot hasten it, there is what we call gestation period. You need to sow, you need to plan, you need to pray, you need to have patience, there will be some set backs in life. You need to learn and be straight forward and be consistent, you need to remain focused. See with your eyes even when your eye cannot see. If you are focused in your dream, you will achieve.

In your view, what are the challenges in running business in Nigeria?

There is devaluation of the economy right now; in the business environment nobody is very sure. Nobody knows what happens next, it is quite challenging. It is a result of lack of long term planning. It is affecting every business right now. Short term plan is not good for the economy as a whole.

What is your favourite colour?

I’m a blue person and I like black thing. I like black because it gives strength and energy. My second colour is blue, it gives me peace.

What really determine your style?

Basically, I like to be comfortable.

Who  Paul Inyang?

Paul Inyang is a very humble man. I have fear of God and very hardworking. I believe in Nigeria. I believe things would get better, I believe Nigeria will do very well and I’m a believer of the country we are now. I’m honest and I don’t depend on man. I always believe in God, I have a strong faith in God. I’m confident about what I want to do and deliver.

How will you describe your wife and family?

My wife has been supportive of the business. My wife is the crown of my shine. She’s been my pillar, my strength, she’s been my role model, and she has been my guiding light and my star. She knows me well. I thank God and I appreciate the kind of woman that I married.

How did you meet her?

We met in the church and it has been good.

Are you car freak?

I’m not car freak

What is your favourite car?

I like good and fast cars. I have owned some cars in the past.

How will you describe the present administration?

We expected this change; we may not see what it is right now. I still believe the government is on the right track. I strongly believe this government is acceptable. I Strongly believe this government is focused. I believe this government mean well for the country. I believe it is the right time some things are put in the right place. What we are experiencing, the country will be better for it.

As one of the shining light in the industry, do you expect more from the regulatory body to improve the industry?

Regulatory bodies are doing their best to manage our control.