By Joan Nwagwu

The Federal Government has appealed to the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) to call off their seven-day warning strike.

Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State, Labour and Employment, made the appeal on Monday in Abuja in a statement signed by Mr Olajide Oshundun, Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry.

It would be recalled that the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU had directed its members to embark on a seven- day warning strike over the non-payment of four months withheld salaries.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had in October 2023, directed that the university workers that embarked on prolonged strike in 2022, be paid four months.

Recall also that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who were part of the unions that embarked on the strike had been paid their own withheld four months salaries.

Onyejeocha also expressed displeasure at the action of the unions, which she described as a total disregard of Federal Government’s concerted effort to address the concern of the unions.

According to her, the Ministry was not officially notified by the unions of their intention to proceed on a seven-day warning strike.

“This is contrary to the provisions of section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act.

“The ministry got wind of the intended warning strike and it reached out to the leadership of the unions for an emergency meeting in order to avert the strike.

“Unfortunately, a physical meeting could not be arranged between the unions and the federal government, but a tele-discussion took place between their leadership and the ministry,” she said.

Onyejeocha said that consequently, the ministry suggested another date, Monday March 18, for a proper conciliation meeting.

She added that this was believing that on the basis of that discussion, the intended strike would be put on hold pending the outcome of the meeting; but this date was rejected by the unions.

The minister however, maintained that strike did not serve any useful purpose and should only be resorted to as a last option after exhausting every conciliation effort.

Onyejocha appealed to SSANU and NASU to step back from their hard-line stance and meet the federal government at the table for conciliation.

She however, appealed to all Nigerians to always take steps that were beneficial to the well-being of the country and the citizens. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

By Lucy Ogalue

The Federal Government’s partnership with a U.S. Cybersecurity Institute, Lab Four, will generate 50,000 Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) jobs in three years, an official has said.

Dr Doris Anite, Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, said this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MoU was signed between Lab Four and the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), the executor of the programme.

According to the minister, the jobs generated through this partnership have the potential to annually attract up to 1.2 billion dollars into the Nigerian economy.

“The MoU being signed between NATEP and Lab Four is to channel 50,000 BPO jobs to Nigeria over the next three years.

“In job categories such as telesales, customer service, virtual administrative assistant, marketing/social media assistant and tech/cybersecurity.

“The jobs generated through this partnership have the potential to annually attract up to 1.2 billion dollars into the Nigerian economy through remuneration to the employed persons.

“In addition to about 60 million dollars that it will provide to develop the BPO ecosystem through direct support to the individual BPOs,” Anite said.

According to the minister, NATEP is a key national initiative that will position Nigeria as a leading global hub for service exports, talent sourcing, and talent exports.

Anite said It served as a dedicated entity to address the unique needs and challenges faced by the talent and service export industry.

“The programme lays special emphasis on enhancing competitiveness, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable growth through trade in services.

“It will serve as a catalyst for the development of the BPO and Talent Export industries and ecosystems, which are the two channels for NATEP’s activities,” she said.

The minister said the four-pronged objectives of the NATEP initiative were to deliver one million service-export jobs over the next five years and increase foreign exchange earnings and revenue for Nigeria.

Anite said it aimed to create economic growth, stimulate the growth of ancillary industries and support services; and also improve skills and strengthen the Nigerian brand.

She said that to successfully implement the mandate of NATEP, there was the need for strategic partnerships – both with institutions within Nigeria and those overseas.

“As such, our partnership with Lab Four will be one of the many partnerships we will have to ensure that Nigeria becomes a global hub for thriving micro, mini, and mega BPOs.

“And as a prime location for high quality for talent. We will create an environment for the growth of the BPO industry across the country.

“To enable workers work in BPOs in close proximity to their locations of residence,” she said.

Also speaking, Dr Femi Adeluyi, National Coordinator, NATEP, in his remarks, said that the initiative would target the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.

Adeluyi assured Nigerians that the selection process for jobs would be transparent, and qualified candidates would be shortlisted after a rigorous selection process.

He therefore, urged Nigerians to visit the NATEP website (www.natep.gov.ng) for further information on the programme.

Meanwhile, Mr Anthony Okhiria, Executive Director, Lab Four, expressed the firm’s commitment to scale up job creation in Nigeria.

“And that is what this is doing. This is huge because it allows Nigeria to accelerate its talent export much quicker.

“Different businesses across the country can be developed, which generates revenue for them. Also, individuals can make money and take it to their families.

“So we are very excited to be part of the solution to that. I look forward to working with you for this.

Also speaking, a representative of the United States Embassy, Mr John Dunham, said the most valuable resources Nigeria had were abundant human population.

Dunham said: “another very important part is the rapid growth of IT, entrepreneurs and exporters in the country particularly among the young people.

“And I am happy to see that the U.S. is trying to encourage the growth of this sector, that will be a game changer for Nigeria.”

NAN reports that the global talent sourcing industry was valued at 620.381 billion dollars in 2020 and is forecasted to be valued at 904.948 billion dollars by 2027.

Nigeria has the potential to provide high-quality talent for the global service export and outsourcing industry. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Chioma Ugboma

A legal practitioner, Modibo Mustapha, has tasked northern leaders not to allow President Bola Tinubu’s efforts on the Pulaaku Initiative to fail.

Modibo said this in a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

He urged the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, governors and leaders of Northern Nigeria to ensure the success of the initiative.

NAN reports that the Federal Government, in February, inaugurated a committee for the implementation of the Pulaaku Initiative.

“Pulaaku” is a Fulani word meaning “to be shy”.

The non-kinetic initiative was set up by the President Bola Tinubu administration to address the root causes of insurgency, banditry and poverty in the northern region.

Modibo said the personal commitment and political will with which President Tinubu approved the establishment of the Pulaaku Initiative could be seen in the prompt release of the N50 billion operational fund for its immediate take-off.

“However, as good and thoughtful as the initiative appears, the challenge still remains that the intended beneficiaries of the new programme need to be effectively mobilised.

“The beneficiaries should be carried along in its implementation. This is absolutely a challenge to the Northern establishment.

“It will amount to failure and self-indictment on the part of northerners in government, either elective or appointive, including the vice president, who coincidentally is the the custodian of the initiative.

According to him, leaders from the North, irrespective of their political leanings or inclinations, are expected to unite and give the Pulaaku Initiative the needed support to succeed.

“The emphasis of the Pulaaku Initiative on the provision of formal education and other social amenities, will go a very long way to give the vulnerable children in the North and the nomadic fulanis a sense of belonging.

“It will also provide a formal orientation needed to interact with their immediate social environment without fear of complex and discrimination.

“The nomadic Fulanis in Northern Nigeria have been neglected for too long, owing to the failure of governments at all levels.

“The Pulaaku Initiative is the first policy of its kind, ever deployed by government with a deliberate intention to create government presence within the nomadic communities in the North,” he said.

Modibo noted that the Pulaaka Initiative should be more important to the North at this crucial point in time, when peace and social stability seemed to have eluded the region.

“It is, therefore, incumbent on the current northern political class to pay more attention to issues like this that will bring genuine development to the people of the region.

“Northern leaders should desist from distractive arguments on mundane issues like the unwarranted controversy over transfer of some Federal Government members of staff to Lagos from Abuja.

“The President needs to be commended and encouraged to sustain his interest and spirited efforts on the implementation of the Pulaaku initiative.

“This is so, that the goals and objectives of the initiative can be achieved within a reasonable period of time, to the credit of his administration.

“Duty therefore beckons on the Vice President to use his good office to convene a summit of various leaders of the Fulani herdsmen, and owners of Sangaya Islamiya schools in the North,” he said.

He noted that the need for the North to support the Tinubu administration could not be over emphasised in the context of the initiative.

“The appalling neglect of socio economic issues relating to herdsmen and Sangaya Islamic education system by successive governments in Nigeria, is the root of the current insecurity in the North.

“The North must support the President’s creative and pragmatic intervention that will most likely, change the narratives around insecurity in the country,” he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma