Opinion I On The Proposed Increment Of Imo Workers' Salaries

ON THE PROPOSED INCREMENT OF IMO WORKERS’ SALARIES

        

The last time I checked, Imo workers in their entirety once again had a good reason to not just smile but grin. The expected outlook of the physiognomies of the persons in question is informed by the pronouncement made by the Imo Executive Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha penultimate week.

         

In the period in review, precisely on Thursday 19^th April 2018, the state’s number one citizen while speaking to newsmen domiciled in the state who called on him at the Government House, disclosed that Imo civil servants would henceforth be faced with a ‘new salary structure’, which is targeted to bear an upward review of their monthly wages and allowances.

        

The above avowal implies that as from the end of April this year, the said workers are going to be placed on a juicier take-home pay. It suffices to assert that their individual lives are meant to change positively commencing from this month, which would mark the premiere of the proposed new salary structure.

        

Governor Okorocha who used the occasion to comment on the ongoing penury faced by the overall Imo retirees, stated that he was determined to change the welfare of the civil servants for good. This is needless to say that he is wearing the political will over the issue as one would wear a clothe.

         

However, the amiable governor didn’t inform Imolites if the salary structure is mainly aimed at ensuring that the workers start receiving hundred percent of their entitled salaries. We expected His Excellency to use the event to throw more light on the forthcoming initiative.

         

It would be recalled that on arrival of the lingering recessionary era, the Imo Government began to pay the civil servants only seventy percent of their entitled wages, though in agreement with the leadership of the workers’ union otherwise known as the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) of the Imo State Chapter.

       

The consequence of the downward review of the workers’ salaries unabated threw their mood in anguish on a monthly basis even though the scheme was ostensibly approved by them via their leaders. They were left with no option than to accept their fate in good faith since there’s invariably a light at the end of the tunnel if one remains optimistic.

       

It’s noteworthy that it was the unfortunate situation faced by the civil servants that mainly prompted the Imo workers’ Free Working Days; an initiative implemented by the governor to enable them use part of their working period to engage themselves in farming with the motive of boosting their respective incomes as well as attract surplus foods on their tables.

         

Regrettably, the candid initiative that attracted countless criticisms from various quarters, failed to yield any meaningful fruit as anticipated by the Governor who apparently meant well for the teeming workers. The failure of the scheme recently called for its abrupt termination by the number one citizen.

        

It’s equally worthy of note that subsequently, the salaries of the workers were upwardly reviewed to eighty percent, which reportedly remains the percentage received by each of them till date. In spite of the upward review, they were yet not comfortable with the take-home pay. This perhaps was what occasioned the pronouncement made by the governor penultimate week.

         

But, the number one citizen didn’t consider telling us the nitty-gritty of the proposed increment. It was pronounced as if the incoming ‘new salary structure’ is a largesse, and not the workers’ supposed entitlement.  It was presented as if the said initiative is a hamper from the Rescue Mission Government. We were informed in a way that anyone would think the scheme is an additional allowance initiated by the governor.

         

Although the initiative was born out of the governor’s magnanimity because if he fails to do so, no one would query him, but concerned Imolites expected him to notify if the new structure is aimed at increasing the workers’ wages to ninety percent or what have you. Or better still, if it will ensure that the workers henceforth will receive hundred percent of their salaries coupled with extra package on a monthly basis.

        

Inasmuch as I wholeheartedly appreciate the governor for coming up with the ‘new salary structure’, I equally wish to use this medium to inform him that discerning minds in the state would want to know what exactly the initiative entails. Hence, there is need for a painstaking statistics regarding the scheme to be made available to all concerned.

       

As I also urge the leadership of the NLC to salute the number one citizen for the new structure, I implore them to endeavour to ask pertinent questions when need be towards intimating their entire members on whatever they deserve to know. In view of this, I expect them to call on His Excellency with a view to enquiring from him the nitty-gritty of the seeming laudable scheme.

       

It’s imperative for governments at all levels to acknowledge the essence of incentives in boosting the productivity of the labour force. The manpower in any setting, either private or public, ought to be meant to enjoy regular incentives to enable them put in their best regardless of the circumstance.

        

Believe it or not, an effective and efficient day-to-day input can never be gotten from a group of workers that are maltreated as regards regular payment of wages and allowances. Any underpaid labour force as it is witnessed in most quarters across the federation, irrespective of the setting, is liable to malfunction.

         

This is the reason I mustn’t cease to commend Gov. Okorocha for eventually thinking in this direction, even as I tell him that he can do better. He really needn’t be reminded that workers are just not unlike Oliver Twist. Think about it!

 

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor
Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

___________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador

      

Opinion I Still On 2018 World Malaria Day

 

GETTING READY TO BEAT MALARIA AS WE MARK 2018 WORLD MALARIA DAY

          

On Wednesday, April 25, the world over is commemorating the 2018 World Malaria Day. This year’s theme is “Ready to beat malaria”. It’s a day set aside by the World Health Organization (WHO) to create awareness on the prevalent malaria scourge.    

                     

 Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by a group of single-celled parasitic micro-organisms known as protozoa belonging to the genus plasmodium. The disease is mainly transmitted by mosquito bites, and the symptoms often commence few days after the incident.

        

Malaria is transmitted most commonly by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The mosquito bite introduces the parasite called plasmodium from the mosquito’s saliva into a person’s bloodstream. The parasites then travel to the liver where they mature and reproduce.

        

The signs and symptoms of malaria typically begin eight to twenty-five days following infection. However, symptoms may occur later in those who have taken anti-malarial medications in the past as prevention.

         

The presentation may include headache, fever, shivering, joint pain, vomiting, haemolytic anaemia, jaundice, haemoglobin in the urine, retinal damage, and convulsions. Malaria in pregnant women is the major cause of stillbirths, infant mortality, abortion and low birth weight.

         

Symptoms of malaria can recur after varying symptom-free periods. Depending upon the cause, recurrence can be classified as either recrudescence or relapse. Recrudescence is when symptoms return after a symptom-free period; it is caused by parasites living in the blood as a result of inadequate or ineffective treatment.

        

Whilst, relapse is when symptoms reappear after the parasites have been eliminated from blood but persist as dormant hyponozoites in liver cells. It commonly occurs between eight to twenty-four weeks and is common among P. Vivax and P. Ovale infections.

          

The primary sources of mosquitoes include sewage, refuse, dirty stagnant water, and untidy environment. In most cases, mosquitoes are peculiar to damp and dirty environments or substances such as gutter, pool, faeces, urine, among other solid and liquid waste materials. This is why residents of untidy localities are at a high risk of contracting malaria.   

          

Methods used to prevent malaria include medications, mosquito elimination through fumigation coupled with regular environmental sanitation, as well as prevention of mosquito bites via regular cum proper use of the mosquito nets, among others. Prevention of malaria, which is yet to have a vaccine, may be more cost-effective than treatment of the disease in the long run. And, the initial costs required are out of reach of many of the world’s poorest people.

          

Owing to the non-specific nature of presentation of symptoms, diagnosis of malaria in non-endemic areas requires a high degree of suspicion. Malaria is invariably confirmed by the microscopic examination of blood films or by antigen-based Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT). Microscopy is the most commonly used method to detect the malaria parasite in the body.

        

In spite of its widespread usage, diagnosis by microscopy suffers from two main drawbacks: many settings especially rural are not equipped to perform the test, and the accuracy of the results depends on both the skill of the lab technician and the levels of the parasite in the blood.

         

Malaria is widely treated with anti-malarial medications. The ones to be used solely depend on the type and severity of the disease. While medications against fever are commonly used, their effects on outcomes are not clear.

          

Uncomplicated malaria may be treated with oral medications. The most effective treatment for P. Falciparum infection is the use of artemisinins in combination with other anti-malarial drugs known as Artemisinin-Combination Therapy (ACT), which decreases resistance to any single drug component.

         

It is obvious that malaria is a killer disease. The WHO estimates that in 2010, there were about 219 million cases of malaria outbreak resulting in 660,000 deaths. The majority of cases, about 65%, occur in children under fifteen years.   

         

Survey also indicates that about 125 million pregnant women are at risk of infection each year. In Sub-Saharan Africa such as Nigeria, Angola, Chad, Congo, Benin, Ghana, and several others, maternal malaria is associated with up to 200,000 estimated infant deaths yearly. In a nutshell, globally, about 3.3 billion individuals in 106 countries are at risk of malaria, mostly among African children.

        

As the annual World Malaria Day is commemorated today, I urge us to be extremely conscious of the outlook of our surroundings since malaria is mainly attributed to unhealthy environment. Thus, we should always endeavour to properly dispose any form of waste found within our place of residence as well as thoroughly sanitize our gutters and toilets at all times. In addition, we ought to ensure that our beds are always covered with treated mosquito net whenever we lie in it.

         

Among all, we should endeavour to see our physician from time-to-time or whenever we notice any abnormality in our body system, for onward review of our health status. In the same vein, the various health personnel across the country are expected to contribute meaningfully in creation of awareness regarding the causes and possible effects of malaria disease cum its epidemic.

         

Most importantly, we ought to always bear in mind that prevention is invariably better than cure. Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador            

 

Opinion I The Senate And That Show Of Shame

THE SENATE AND THAT SHOW OF SHAME

        

I have often times argued that the legislature ought to be placed as the first arm of government, hence its members are required to act like frontiers when it calls for doing the needful or leading by example.

        

The above assertion was informed by the fact that the institution in question is the only body constitutionally responsible for lawmaking in any democratic terrain. Of course, we aren’t unaware that if the laws aren’t available, the executive will have nothing to execute. It’s not anymore news that execution of projects are done strictly in accordance with the extant laws.

         

The Senate, however, disabused me of that impression penultimate week, precisely on Wednesday 18^th April 2018. In the period in review, a group of five thugs invaded the Hallowed Chambers of the Senate during legislative sitting and forcefully made away with the mace, the symbol of authority of the legislature.

         

The names of the thugs, who were later apprehended, were given as Tuoyo Mabiaku, Peter Ovede, Blessing Edjeke, Lucky Okomu and Prince Enayemo; all of Delta State extraction. It was alleged that they were led by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who is currently representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the Red Chamber.

         

It would be recalled that Sen. Omo-Agege was recently suspended by the Senate for ninety legislative days over alleged misconduct. According to the President of the Upper Chamber, Sen. Bukola Saraki, the suspension which precisely occurred on Thursday, April 12, 2018 was necessitated by the court action instigated by the embattled lawmaker.

       

Sen. Omo-Agege, who was previously billed to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions as regards his comments on the 2018 Amendment of Electoral Act, had sued the Red Chamber in a bid to stop the proposed appearance. The legislator who had been piloting a ‘Parliamentary Support Group for President Buhari’ was of the view that he was exercising his constitutional rights, thus deserved not to be queried by his colleagues.

       

Sen. Saraki opined that the suspension was highly consequential, stating taking the Senate to court smacks of ‘gross-indiscipline’ which should not be condoned by the Upper Chamber. He disclosed that a situation whereby a few senators would portray themselves before the Presidency as saints and make others appear as devils was ‘totally unacceptable’. 

       

The stolen mace was reportedly recovered by the police at the fly-over before the Abuja city gate. It’s noteworthy that Sen. Omo-Agege alongside the thugs had been arrested by the police. It was equally gathered that the indicted lawmaker, who belongs to the ruling All Progressives Party (APC), had outrightly been disowned by the party as well as the Presidency.

         

It’s worthy of note that this is first in history across the globe a symbol of authority of a country’s legislature would be stolen. It becomes more confusing and saddening when realized that such a disgusting criminal act was allegedly engineered by a sitting senator.

         

This brings to my notice a certain piece I did some time ago titled ‘When lawmakers become lawbreakers’. In that critique, I unequivocally tendered my unalloyed displeasure over how some so-called lawmakers in Nigeria were on a daily basis involved in issues that bore no reverence for the country’s constitution or extant laws. It’s disheartening that almost two years after publishing that analysis, our legislators at all levels are yet to prove to us that they are really in charge of lawmaking.

         

A lawmaker was suspended and afterwards felt that the action taken against his person was inappropriate or illicitly carried out. Hence, the next thing he could think of was to invade the Senate premises and steal the body’s mace. Such a criminal outing allegedly piloted by a man, who ought to acknowledge the prime essence of the judiciary, was truly unspeakable and unacceptable, to assert the least.

         

It could be that the Senate derailed over the process embraced towards sanctioning the legislator. It could be that the Red Chamber overrode the judiciary by taking decision over a case that was already before a court of competent jurisdiction. It could be, therefore, that the Upper Chamber goofed or overreacted in its action.

       

Inasmuch as I wasn’t in support of how he was suspended, that reaction taken by the embattled legislator, which I have aptly described as a ‘show of shame’, wasn’t in any way required in the process of fighting for his right that was apparently violated. That singular reaction was unequivocally enough reason to expunge, and not suspend, him from the National Assembly (NASS) if eventually found guilty.

         

Notwithstanding, I wouldn’t hesitate in putting the blame of what transpired in the Senate on the security personnel that were on guard during the incident. I refuse to be convinced that a gang of five thugs, either armed or not, could outshine the policemen on duty on that fateful day.

       

This implies that there are many questions yet to be answered by the ‘men of honour’ in charge of the Senate’s security. If your thought is as good as mine, then one wouldn’t hesitate to ask; where exactly are we headed for? Think about it!

 

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador