By Ikenna Uwadileke
Andrew Chambers, the world’s first Professor of Internal Audit, has endorsed the forthcoming virtual programme on survival strategies for Nigerian and African leaders during the COVID-19 era organised by TEXEM UK.

TEXEM, UK, which has trained over 4,000 executives in the UK and Africa in the past 10 years, is founded by Dr Alim Abubakre, a British based entrepreneur from Nigeria.

Chambers, a key faculty for the programme, spoke on Sunday through TEXEM UK’ website on the coming executive development programme slated for March 10 and March 11 while sharing insights into how to succeed in such turbulent times.

On why leaders should attend the programme, he said that given TEXEM’s impressive pedigree of consistently helping organisations to thrive and the world-renowned faculties expected, it is a programme that every executive should not miss.

Faculties who would be delivering the programme include Mike Wilkins, Managing Director S&P Global Ratings and Prof. Randall Peterson of London Business School.

Others are Ambassador Peter Collecott and Ambassador Richard Gozney, the Lieutenant Governor of Isle of Man and Former British High Commissioner to Nigeria.

Chambers said the topics that will be covered are relevant and essential for the success of leaders and organisations.

“This TEXEM, UK programme on Risk Management & Effective Leadership for Superlative Performance during Turbulent Times, promises to offer valuable insights on how to unlock scarce value in an era where there are few.

“Through this executive development programme, leaders would enhance their social capital by networking and steepening their learning curve by challenging assumptions.

“Notably, in times of volatility, stiff competition, and slow economic growth, it is easy to get so engrossed in the daily struggle to survive that one forgets to be strategic and focus on optimising performance.

“This TEXEM, UK programme would help participants to learn how to achieve this and more,” the former Advisor to the British House of Lords explained.

According to Chambers, a company must integrate culture, risk and strategy to succeed while the mission, promise, values and ethics of an organisation must also be integrated with these.

He said it was not just COVID-19 which posed challenges, but the pace of technological change was just as challenging.

Chambers said leaders might not be able to identify the particular future happenings which would become opportunities or threats.

“Still, we should certainly try our best to define possible future scenarios caused by whatever opportunities or threats that may occur.

“And then satisfy ourselves that we could exploit those opportunities or mitigate those threats should they occur for whatever cause.

“And we may be able to engineer that the opportunities do occur and the threats are avoided,” he said.

By Salisu Sani-Idris
The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has established a Call Center to make the system of tax administration in the territory more accessible and efficient.

The Executive Chairman, FCT-IRS, Mr Abdullahi Attah, made this known while answering questions from newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

Attah explained that the rationale was geared towards creating an institutional framework that would promote the ease of doing business for residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that the Call Center which would be operating from 8a.m. to 5p.m. daily, was designed to enable tax payers make enquiries or lodge complaints without physically visiting any FCT-IRS office.

“Just dial 070 0220 0002 and someone will be there to attend to you,” he said.

Attah said as part of efforts to further reduce the number of persons that visit the office to obtain Tax Identification Number (TIN), the agency had simplified the process for all those with NIN and BVN to generate their TIN from the comfort of their homes using *7737*22#.

“Our short message code is *7737*22#. Once you have already registered for NIN or BVN, then you don’t need to come to our office,” he said.

Attah also explained that FCT-IRS in a bid to achieve one of its objectives of being the leading tax administration in Africa, had engaged 169 consultants for the next six years to effectively cover and follow-up all MDAs in the territory.

The executive chairman, therefore, appealed to residents to help build a viable capital city by paying their taxes promptly.

He warned that there would be no escape for tax evaders, as the agency had concluded plans to synergise with other sister agencies like AGIS, VIO, FRSC and the Joint Tax Board, to fish out all taxable persons within Abuja.

He also stressed that all residents are expected to file their 2020 tax return on or before the end of March 31.

By Obinna Unaeze
The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) in Niger on Friday held its inaugural governing council meeting.

Mr Joseph Ityav, Chairman of the governing council, Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa, Managing Director as well as other members were present at the meeting at the commission’s headquarters in Minna.

Yelwa said that with the inauguration of the board, the challenges that led to its formation would be addressed.

“It is hope that with the establishment of the commission and its formal take-off, it will address the worrisome problems of lack of electricity for the host communities of our hydroelectric dams.

“The commission will also address environmental degradation, poverty due to loss of livelihoods, resettlement issues and revive the economy of the dislocated communities,” he said.

Yelwa said that the commission would ensure that all funds accruing to the six member states of Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara Niger, Plateau and Benue
would be utilised to tackle the menace of ecological and environmental degradation.

He said that the commission would commence operations soon with the staff strength of 70 across the member states and later recruit from other states depending on the decision of the council.

Similarly, Ityav expressed optimism that the commission would start full operations soon.

“My desire is to ensure that the commission kickstart full activities within the shortest possible time,” he said.

Ityav said that the working documents of the HYPPADEC would be the Act establishing the commission and other relevant laws.

The Chairman lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for assembling people with the requisite experience and professional background for effective take off of the commission.

He gave the assurance that the council would succeed on its assignment while imploring members to work hard.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the bill establishing HYPPADEC was first introduced at the two chambers of the National Assembly by late Sen. Dahiru Awaisu in 2005.

By Nana musa
Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau, Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, says the National Assembly is working with stakeholders to address Nigeria’s pension administration challenges.

Shekarau disclosed this at the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) stakeholders’ forum organised in collaboration with Association of Retired War Affected Police Officers (ARWAPO).

He said that the business of the lawmakers was to make laws that would make things easier for the citizens.

“We are collaborating with all the pension agencies, in dialogue with the relevant government ministries and agencies including Ministry of Finance, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and all other concerned.

“We are addressing outstanding issues with pension administration and plight of pensioners,” he said.

The lawmaker commended PTAD over the stakeholders meeting and its constant engagement with people at the grassroots to listen to their problems and find solutions.

Shekarau advised pensioners to always liaise with the leaders of pensioners’ unions to make their complaints known and to take up their demands with PTAD to minimise their challenges.

“There can not be a time when there will be no complaints because we are dealing with human beings; sometimes it is not the fault of the agencies,” he said.

However, the President of ARWAPO, Mr Mathew Udeh, lamented the existence of some challenges and the stress their members were subjected to before being paid.

Udeh said that sometimes the pensioners were asked to produce some documents used when they were paid in 2006 and 2007, the voucher they signed or the cheques they were given.

“It is difficult for us to produce these documents because it is such a long time,” he said.

Udeh, who proffered some solutions to the pensioners’ problems, appealed to the directorate to help solve the challenges quickly.

He said that some pensioners had been paid their arrears while some were yet to be paid, adding that those who have been paid should be placed on monthly pension payment.

He, however, thanked the organisers of the programme and commended the effort of the directorate in its quest to meet their needs.

By Nana Musa
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) says it paid gratuity and pension arrears to 414 Association of Retired War Affected Police Officers (ARWAPO) amounting to over N954 million.

The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Dr Chioma Ejikeme, made this known at a stakeholders’ forum with ARWAPO in Enugu State on Thursday.

Ejikeme said that death benefits were paid to 145 Next of Kin (NoK) of the deceased pensioners amounting to over N149 million.

She explained that the retired war affected police officers were set of members of the Nigerian police force that took sides with the state of Biafra during the Nigeria Civil War and were dismissed in 1971.

Ejikeme said that they were later pardoned and granted amnesty by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 2000.

She said that in a bid to bring pension administration to the doorstep of the pensioners, PTAD periodically engages stakeholders to update them of the directorates past and ongoing activities.

Ejikeme said that also allowed the organisation the opportunity to interact with the pensioners one on one with a view to serve them better.

She said that the directorate was currently reviewing and computing all pending ARWAPO pensioners complaints in order to payroll them monthly for pension, payments of arrears and payment of NoK.

She also stated that the provision of documents by ARWAPO members required for qualification for benefits computation and payment had been a challenge.

“Meetings such as the one we are having today provide the opportunity for cross-pollination of ideas, provision of clarity regarding grey areas and information dissemination.”

The executive secretary noted that the meeting provided another opportunity for continuous discussion with ARWAPO members on the way forward, getting mandatory requirements for the remaining pensioners to ensure their benefits were paid.

“This is a very potent indication of the importance, seriousness and commitment the present administration attaches to the wellbeing of our senior citizens,” she added.

Ejikeme said that in spite of the COVID-19 challenges the directorate had been making progress in addressing pensioners issues and restoring hope, dignity and a decent living to a Defined Benefit Scheme Pension.