Opinion
How NASC is Addressing Staff Health Welfare
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF.
The National Assembly Service Commission NASC aside providing emergency first aid service at the commission by extension rendered clinical services at the National Assembly.
This arrangement was in existence before the advent of the current leadership under the management of Engr Ahmed Kadi Amshi FNSE and his commissioners with inadequate staffers to man the clinical services.
Having identified the teething problems and realized the implications, particularly in the area of providing health services to staff , legislators and by extension official visitors to the National Assembly Service Commission NASC and the National Assembly, it became imperative to rejig and re-equip the clinic with a view to providing both emergency and by extension other health services.
Aside rendering clinical and skeletal service to the National Assembly community, lawmakers and by extension legal visitors to the Assembly, the desire to provide necessary equipment to the clinic became imperative.
For a robust clinical services and provision of basic health needs, the commission aside providing through engagement of more health personnel , also expanded its period of services to ensure adequate attention to staffers of the commission.
The Amshi led commission having discovered that the first aid and clinical services could not sustain the activities of the commission and the assembly, devised a means of augmenting a more robust health system for staffers of the National Assembly.
This led to the confirmation of out source health workers known as “Locum ” that had been in the service for years into a permanent and regular staff along with others , a decision that wss hailed to guarantee provision of adequate health facilities.
Envisaging more demands for health care facilities and the growing nature of the commission and National Assembly, aside confirmation of some health workers on “Locum” status , concerted efforts was designed to regularise the services of the health department of the Assembly to a normal hospital, which recently led to a full fledged all round the day service been rendered by the health department of the National Assembly.
What it means is that the National Assembly clinic is running a full shift like a normal clinic or hospital to attend to both the emergency health needs and by extension those needing referrals on a daily basis , away from the previous system of closing like the normal civil servants.
The extension of the service from the normal working hours of 8am – 4pm to round the clock, was a fall out of confirmation of temporary staff that had been underutilized and the growing need of providing more health services both to the staff, lawmakers and the visiting public.
Twenty five years down the line , the NASC expected the movement from a mere clinical services to a full fledged hospital that will gradually lead to building a hospital for the National Assembly, to allow not only staff of the commission and the assembly, but by extension federal lawmakers and their families, legislative aides and even the national assembly service commission’s commissioners among many other health facilities and emergencies.
The laudable decision of expanding the service of the health department from working hours to 24 hours as obtainable in public hospitals, will reduce to the barest minimum the incidence and occasion of not only referrals , but untreated ailments frequently reported by staffers , both during working hours, and weekends.
The long over due provision and decisions with regards to the provision of quality health services and care for staffers of the National Assembly has been overtaken by seamless and well thought out foresight of the National Assembly Service Commission NASC under the leadership of Engr Ahmed Kadi Amshi FNSE and his commissioners, to guarantee the health status of members of staff and enhance performance on the job and productivity.
This decision when sustained will also douse the incidences of unattended health emergencies and deaths owing to inadequate equipment and personel to carry out required health services.
For the commission, a step forward had been achieved not only to safeguard the welfare of staffers alone , but the health status so as to continue to render needful service to the commission and the country at large.
The people oriented decisions when sustained will not only improve the manpower and work ethics, but encourage workers into putting in their maximum effort to ensure results.
With the slogan a healthy nation is wealthy nation, no doubt the proactive decisions to rejig the provision of health services by initially providing more hands, extension of service and equipment, will have a multiplier effects on the commission and National Assembly.
ABUBAKAR YUSUF Writes on yus.abubakar@gmail.com.
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.
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.