By Joan Nwagwu

The National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria (NUMTEN) has pledged  to end illegal price fixing and exploitation in Nigerian markets

Mr James Chukwuma, NUMTEN President made the pledge while receiving the union’s Certificate of Registration from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NUMTEN is the newest affiliate of the NLC.

Chukwuma said that the unstable market prices was worrisome to Nigerians and one of the objectives of the union is to ensure market reform.

“We are going to work with the market traders, distributors, manufacturers and even government to ensure that prices are regulated,” he said

He added that the union would protect traders from persistent exploitation and victimisation by unscrupulous elements hiding under the garb of the government.

According to Chukwuma,  NUMTEN has been registered to liberate helpless market traders from persistent intimidation and extortion in the hands of illegal market associations.

“This unlawful act perpetrated by these illegal impostors have caused grievous bodily harm to the market traders, with people losing their life on a daily basis on the account of the encounters.

“The idea is to tackle all the identified challenges, including, non-conducive trading environment, unrealistic business profit, unstable market prices, incessant lost of properties in the market from fire outbreak,” he said.

Chukwuma said that NUMTEN is a symbol of hope to salvage government revenue being siphoned by minority individual and illegitimate association.

He said the union would ensure that the right revenue goes into the government purse, and the labour of its members would not be in vain any longer.

NUMTEN president also promised to enter into collaboration with other sister unions and government agencies, to ensure Nigeria becomes a productive and not consuming nation.

“We will ensure that Nigeria becomes an industrialised nation producing finished goods for consumption by other nations in the world,” he said.

Mr Benson Upah, NLC Head of Information, urged the union to be up and doing and priotise workers’ welfare. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Martha Agas

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has tasked the ministry staff to uphold a positive mindset to boost productivity in carrying out their responsibilities.

Alake made the call while declaring open a two-day ministerial stepdown retreat organised for the staff of the ministry and its parastatals on Friday in Abuja.

The theme of the retreat is, “Delivering on the Eight Presidential Priorities.

The retreat is geared towards ensuring that workers performed their duties diligently in line with the eight presidential priorities of the Tinubu’s administration, particularly in unlocking energy and natural resources for sustainable development.

He said that a positive attitude was critical in productivity, no matter how brilliant a worker may be.

“Above all, however brilliant you are, if your mental attitude is wrong, you cannot make it.

“ It is the character of the heart that determines the essence of a heart. It is not your brilliance, because brilliance can be purchased but you cannot buy character, “ he said.

According to him, the retreat should be a period for the workers to rejuvenate their zeal, and be intentional about contributing to realising the presidential priority areas.

“This retreat has been designed to be inclusive to ensure that each one of us contribute his and her ideas to the implementation of the priorities.

“Let us rededicate our minds and hearts to our jobs, “ he said.

He added that the retreat was organised to enable the staff to digest the seven-point agenda of the ministry and brainstorm on how to achieve it.

The minister noted that they were also required to come up with strategies and methodologies for translating these objectives into reality.

He said that ministry was doing its best to support staff through some welfare packages, but required them to add value to improve the capacity to deliver on its mandate.

Alake thanked the legislature, particularly the committees on Solid Minerals in the House of Representatives and the Senate for ensuring the mining sector received the necessary support to facilitate its development.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Sampson Ekong, commended the minister for marketing the sector to foreign investors who were demonstrating commitment to invest in the country.

Represented by his deputy, Mustapha Kabir, he said the senate would provide the necessary support to reposition the sector and improve the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Also, the chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Gaza Gbefwi, also stated that the retreat provided a platform to spur all stakeholders to synergise efforts in delivering on the presidential priorities and developing Nigeria`s mineral resources.

Earlier in her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Mary Ogbe said that the presidential priorities were aimed at addressing key areas that required collective responsibility. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Gabriel Yough

By Vivian Emoni

The Joint Tax Board (JTB) has urged its members of staff to effectively collaborate with relevant agencies to positively project the image of the board.

The Secretary of the JTB, Mr Olusegun Adesokan, made this call at a Strategic Retreat organised by the board in Abuja.

The theme of the retreat is: “Encouraging a Culture of Collaboration, Innovation and Adaptation to Respond to Emerging Challenges while Positively Projecting the Image of the JTB.’’

He said that the theme provided the underlying inspiration behind the various topics, adding that the outcome of the exercise would meet the objectives and goals earmarked for it.

According to him, it is essential for the JTB secretariat staff to imbibe the culture of collaboration and innovation to enable them to fully understand their roles under the emerging dispensation.

“The dynamics of our domestic tax ecosystem is currently being influenced by ongoing reforms.

“At this critical point, it is imperative that the JTB, given its crucial role in the nation’s tax administration landscape, is positioned to fully utilise the opportunities that will present themselves.

“We look forward to an engaging and inspiring session that will motivate the staff of the JTB to be the drivers of positive change.

“The board will hold that banner of a sustainable, inclusive and friendly tax environment in the country,” he said.

The former Chairman of the board, Mrs Ifueko Okauru, said that strong collaboration was vital towards strengthening and achieving the goal of the board.

Okauru urged the members of staff to ensure strong communication, adding that such communication would support the board to build a stronger trust to enhance service delivery.

She also advised the board to consistently focus on effective processing to provide decisions that would transform revenue and enhance economic growth of the country.

Mr Collins Umenwosu, Tax Administration and Compliance Officer, JTB, who spoke on behalf of the staff, said that the retreat would support the board to achieve its objectives.

Umenwosu thanked the management of the JTB for the opportunity given to them to participate in the retreat.

He added that the efforts would help the members of staff to know how to address challenges, strengthen and advance the board. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo