Opinion
One year of Dr Raji’s Giant Strides at Driving Renewed Hope Agenda in National Productivity Centre
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
Dr Nasirdeen Olaitan Raji- Mustapha was appointed the Director General, National Productivity Centre NPC by the federal government on May 18th, 2023, after the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past Director General, Dr Kashim Akor, (NPOM), who held sway for two consecutive term.
Raji, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), joined the services of the National Productivity Centre NPC many decades ago, and grew through the system with versed knowledge and experience, that saw him becoming a Director in the department of procurement for many years, before his elevation to the top notch of the agency.
His assumption of duty as the Director General, National Productivity Centre NPC coincided with the time the new administration of Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was preparing to take over the mantle of leadership of the country , after the landslide victory at the general elections held in March, 2023.
With the mantle of leadership entrusted in him at the NPC, Dr Nasir Raji Mustapha created an enabling environment along with other departments and agencies of government for the smooth transition from the outgoing administration to the new one, particularly on the issue that boardered on performance and productivity across all strata.
Without delay , he embarked on the decorations on behalf of the federal government prominent and notable Nigerians who had distinguished themselves both from the private and public sector confered with the National Productivity Merit Award (NPOM) for 2023, that took many weeks, and proceeded on international engagement at the International Labour Organization (ILO), in Geneva.
The new NPC Director General interfaced with the office of the Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF), Yemi Esan on the way forward and advocated the introduction of Performance Management System (PMS) in the service that became a guide to the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The new leadership in NPC threw more light that led to the signing of Performance Bond (PM) by the federal government and the newly appointed Ministers, and top government officials.
He set the ball rolling as it became a norm and order of the day as performance and productivity became a national discourse, to enable the new administration settle down and consolidate on it’s Renewed Hope Agenda that will galvanize the new leadership.
Since , charity begins at home, Dr Nasir Raji embarked on wholistic training and retraining/capacity building of the workforce to prepare them for the new challenges both internally and nationally particularly on “Productivity, Tools and Techniques” that trickled down all strata of public and private sector, through workshops, seminars, symposiums, talk shops among many others and visitations to various organizations.
The new development in National Productivity Centre NPC enabled the staff access to producing more quality reports , imbibe corporate governance among online reorientation across the agency.
Through, the productivity officers and experts , he deepened the need to adopt the new parlance of “pay as you work” along with the understanding of the labour bodies to drive genuinely performance /productivity in all sectors of the economy.
He provided aside the enabling environment, working tools by acquiring new vehicles both for logistics and office use in some state offices, that expanded the scope of job execution of staff of the agency, including staff welfare.
He introduced Corporate Enhancement Programme (CEP), that will serve as a culture and official conduct of the staffers of the agency, in the course of carrying out it’s official engagement.
With the new working culture, there is no doubt that efficiency, to deliver on the required learning and teaching both in the private and public sector on the need to imbibe productivity has systemically been inculcated.
Dr Nasirdeen Olaitan Raji- Mustapha expanded the scope of coverage of the agency through constant training and retraining of staff of Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the need to consolidate performance/productivity in their various activities.
In it’s efforts to catch them young, the new leadership in NPC had reinvigorated visitations to schools across the country, to reorient and reinvigorate students on productivity and national development, deploying it’s productivity techniques and tools.
Within one year in office , the new leadership of NPC has engaged in partnership with both corporate bodies, individuals and both national and international organizations, as well as collaboration with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.
Aside statutory mandate, the National Productivity Centre NPC under the leadership of Dr Raji had expanded the scope of procurement in the agency, through synergy with the federal lawmakers to deliver their constituency projects to various communities across the country, as there is no doubt, the agency had become a beehive of activities.
Dr Nasir Raji leadership in the course of governance, encourage productivity across all spheres also proposed the introduction of productivity link wage system (PLWS), were workers on the same level and grade will be remunerated based on performance across all areas , away from the current system.
The new NPC also organized the 5th National Productivity Summit with it’s theme “Leveraging on Science, Technology and Innovation”, to move the country forward.
The program held at the NAF conference centre, Abuja, between the 14th and 15th, May , 2023 attracted the Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Ojo and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Rt Honorable Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha, Chairman , Senate Committee on Labour and Employment, Senate Diket Plang and the House of Representatives counterpart, Mr Adefarati among many others were all presented papers and positions to move productivity forward leveraging on the new digital order.
Under the leadership of Dr Nasirdeen Olaitan Raji- Mustapha, there is no doubt that the quest for robust productivity across all sectors of the Nigeria economy, resolution of lingering wages or workers, training and retraining along capacity building across private and public sector will be tackled headlong, deploying Science, Technology and Innovation across board.
No doubt and going forward, the leadership in NPC is prepared to pilot the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to success and fruition across all areas.
ABUBAKAR YUSUF Writes from Abuja on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
By Rinret Jennifer Mwarap
The unrelenting massacre of citizens in Plateau State has reached an alarming level. While the government claims to be taking steps to restore order, the reality on the ground tells a different story one that feels like nothing meaningful is being done.
It is heartbreaking to see our loved ones butchered without cause. The questions torment us: What have we done wrong? Who have we offended? Where did we go astray? Must we continue to endure this suffering for no justifiable reason?
The killing of innocent people in Plateau must come to an end. The government and security forces cannot afford to look away. Their responsibility is clear they must act swiftly and decisively to bring the perpetrators to justice, for the sake of the innocent victims and the children left behind.
I call on the Governor of Plateau State to rise to this challenge. Take bold and immediate action against those who seek to destroy our land and shed innocent blood. Let them face the full weight of the law.
This feels like a nightmare—how did we get to the point where the same Plateau where I once slept peacefully with both eyes closed is now a place where even sleeping with one eye open feels unsafe?
Where is the peace in our “Home of Peace and Tourism”?
When will our tears dry? When will justice prevail?
If we truly seek peace, then justice must be non-negotiable.
Ken Nnamani, a former president of the senate, says he did not beg Elisha Abbo, a former senator representing Adamawa north, on behalf of any judge after the ex-lawmaker lost his election case in court.
In October 2023, the court of appeal sacked Abbo and declared Amos Yohanna, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the Adamawa north senatorial election.
Appearing on Channels Television on Wednesday, Abbo said he was a victim of “miscarriage of justice”.
The former senator said Nnamani pleaded with him on behalf of a judge after he lost his election case in 2023.
Reacting in a statement, the former senate president described Abbo’s claim as “blatant lies”.
“My greatest surprise was to hear him state that Senator Ken Nnamani visited him to plead with him on behalf of a judge for the miscarriage of justice. This statement is a blatant lie. I do not know how Senator Abbo can boldly fabricate an event that never happened to buttress his allegation of judicial miscarriage against him,” he said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have never visited Senator Elisha Abbo at his house or anywhere. Up to this moment, I do not know where he lives. I have never discussed with him about his case, or any case pending or decided by any court of law in Nigeria.
“The only time I met with him was when he visited me in my house. It was more of a social visit by him. At this meeting, we never discussed his case or any case. I recall that when the matter of his political career came up, I advised him to avoid controversies as a young politician.
“The statements Senator Abbo made regarding me and his case are all fabrications. I believe I have had a sterling and distinguished public service career. I am determined to maintain my integrity and commitment to excellence till the end of my life.”
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.