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.
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.
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
On assumption of duty in January, 2025 , the new Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Boss and well grounded World Bank expert , Aisha Garba envisaged the need to reposition the Basic Education through interfacing with the critical stakeholders.
Amongst them is the office of the National Security Adviser , NSA, led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu whose achievements in the last few years in the area of security has become distinct and outstanding.
Therefore, seeking to cooperate and collaborate with the office became germane and needful particularly the protection of lives and properties of actors in the promotion of Basic Education ranging from the pupils , teachers , workers and facilitators to enable it drive the new wave to curb Out of School Children OOSC in the country.
Aside providing the basic security arrangements for schools , the need to engage the security apparatus at the level of National Security Adviser NSA became needful, so as to address the sophistry of security problems in the country, to nip in the bud any unforseen circumstances.
With the high rates of kidnappings, abduction , banditry, cattle rustling, ritual tendencies among many other vices, the idea of bringing on board , the security architecture of the country in all ramifications will assist the commission to consolidate the implementation of Basic Education policies and programs, also introduce new ones .
Since pupils at the Primary, Junior Secondary and Secondary Schools are prone to such ugly development and security issues , the need to be proactive on the part of the commission became timely and desiring.
This led to the success story of the bilateral interface between the management of the commission and NSA, to streamline, perfect and chart a new course on the issue of security of actors in the Basic Education.
The visit described as timely and long overdue, discussed fruitfully the way forward and the immediate and long term intervention of both agencies in the area of collaboration.
According to the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba she stated by discussing” strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing educational access and security in Nigeria. ”
She further said” the engagement focused on strategies to address challenges such as the safety of schools, particularly in vulnerable regions, and the promotion of equitable education for all children.”
“the meeting highlighted the critical intersection between education and national security and the need for collaboration between UBEC and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on improving access to basic education and safety of safety schools across the nation. ”
“This collaboration underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a secure and inclusive learning environment as part of its broader agenda to strengthen the nation’s educational framework,” it added.
“UBEC boss had pledged to engage critical stakeholders to break down barriers to education and create inclusive learning opportunities for children across the six geopolitical regions of the country.”
“She said: “My goal is to deliver on this mandate which includes strengthening collaboration, partnerships and institutional learning for effective service delivery. ”
“Together, we will work to increase access, improve quality, provide conducive and safe learning environments, supply adequate teaching and learning materials, and adopt the concept of ‘best fit’ in addressing specific basic education challenges, state by state and region by region”.
Highlights of the program which included the engagement of both bodies with a commitment to ensure the introduction of security architecture in schools in Nigeria is achievable.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.