How New FIRS Training Strategy Will Save Billions in Few Years *by Kelechi Okoronkwo

  

For big and critical organisations such the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) which has a workforce of over 11,000 staff, the issue of human capacity development is a big deal. With the preponderance of technology in all facets of human endeavour, the world keeps evolving by the day; and the workforce of such organisations like the FIRS needs to evolve at a higher speed per day in order to stay ahead of evolving trends.

 

This is the rationale for the frequent subject-matter training which the FIRS schedules for all staff. To sharpen the skills of staff, the Management expects that all staff of the Service, including contract drivers, should be trained on their job functions at least once in two years- that is, as a worst-case scenario. In practice, staff could get training on their job functions at an average rate of three times in one year. To achieve the above schedule, it becomes inevitable that the Service has to spend a lot of money on training. Considering the high cost of training using consultants in Nigeria at the moment, the cost of achieving high quality training for all of FIRS workforce over a two-year period could run into billions of Naira; and since such trainings are a necessity, the Service would have no option other than to pay for its staff development.

 

Recently, in line with its policy of cost saving and obtaining value for money, the Service introduced a new training strategy—Train the Trainer Strategy. The Management called for applications from suitably qualified staff to serve as Subject Matter Experts and from the numerous applications, selected outstanding staff who have expert knowledge of the subject matter, deploying them to handle various programs based on their expertise. As a result, FIRS does not need to utilise training consultants for all capacity building programs; the Service needs only to outsource experts to handle trainings where internal capacity is not available.

 

The Service has deployed the above strategy for about six months now and it is working seamlessly so far. During the strategy assessment engagement recently, some of the trainees as well as the facilitators praised FIRS Management for thinking out of the box. A class of staff who were undergoing a training on Fundamentals of Taxation at the FIRS training school in Durumi, Area 1, Abuja, gave a standing ovation to one of their colleagues after handling the training.

 

 

Reacting to the development, one of the trainees said that he was happy that the FIRS Management is now using FIRS staff to train FIRS staff.

 

He said: “This is a great initiative by the Management. You can see that everyone is happy. You are motivated because the person standing before you is also your colleague. You are freer to ask them questions, the class becomes more relaxed and interactive. You are also motivated to learn the subject matter so that one day, you can stand before other colleagues and lecture them. This is commendable and we want the Management to keep it up. Apart from making the class more relaxed, it also saves costs. Using this strategy, the Management does not need to always use training consultants. We can save the money and use it for other pressing needs of the Service. It also helps both the trainers and the trainees; the trainers would internalise the subject matter more if they keep teaching other staff; because you would not want to come here and mess up yourself, you would try to read the subject matter very well. By doing so, the trainers are equipping themselves more. For the trainees, you are challenged and motivated to do better”.

 

Responding to accolades, one of the trainers said “We will report back to the Management that you said that this strategy is good. We also believe that it is good. Thank you very much”, the trainer said.

The Director of Career and Skills Development Department of the FIRS, Mrs. Angel Fadahunsi, said that the Service is convinced that using competent staff to train other staff would be more productive.

 

“Yes, that is the way the Service is going. Why should we be paying consultants to come and train our staff when we have the capacity to train ourselves? There is no reason for that. This is one of my Department’s 2022 Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and we are working hard to achieve it.

 

By next year, more training programs which were outsourced will be handled by staff. We are not outsourcing them any longer. You can see that both the trainers and the trainees are happy; and at the same time, the Management is saving money. We are using our competent staff to train other staff.

 

 

This is the way the Service is going and it’s just one of many innovations that the ECFIRS has encouraged us to adopt; watch out for more” she said.

 

-Okoronkwo is a Technical Staff to FIRS Executive Chairman

Real Reason Naziru Isyaku Rabiu Resigned as Executive Director from BUA Foods

Naziru Isyaku Rabiu

 

Naziru Isyaku Rabiu has resigned from his Executive Director post at his father’s BUA Foods PLC less than a year after his appointment.

 BUA Foods Plc, one of Nigeria’s biggest and publicly-traded food production companies.

More facts have emerged revealing the reasons behind his resignation.

A corporate disclosure that was filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) said the resignation took effect on August 17, 2022. The statement did not offer further explanations.

“BUA Foods Plc (the Company) hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public of the resignation of Isyaku Naziru Rabiu as a Director on the Board of Directors of the Company with effect from 17th August 2022,” the brief statement said.

However, a source at the company who spoke to us anonymously revealed that Rabiu’s resignation became necessary to enable BUA Foods to meet some regulatory requirements as set by NGEX.

Nigeria’s Code of Corporate Governance (on family and interlocking directorship) requires that “not more than two members of the same family shall sit on the Board of a public company at the same time,” the source said.

In the same vein, the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) in Nigeria has a similar requirement under its Corporate Governance Guidelines.

 Naziru Isyaku Rabiu is the son of Nigerian billionaire Abdul Samad Rabiu, who currently serves as the Chairman and CEO of BUA Group owners of BUA Foods PLC. Already another member of the family is on the Board as an Executive Director.

Before he was appointed an Executive Director at BUA Foods Plc in November 2021, he was a director at IRS Pasta & Flour Limited which was later merged with other companies to form BUA Foods Plc. In January 2022, BUA Foods Plc was listed on the Nigerian Exchange. And this necessitated the latest board changes.

The source who spoke to us in confidence maintained that Naziru Isyaku Rabiu remains an Executive at BUA Foods in the meantime.

The young professional, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of Hertfordshire, has held previous positions within the conglomerate, including Commercial Director and Business Development Officer.

Naziru had also briefly worked as a business analyst at Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous oil exploration firms.

Kayode Akinsola Holds Virtual Mentoring Programme for Law Students, Young Lawyers October 24

As part of his effort in giving back to the society, Barrister Kayode Akinsola is set to organize a virtual mentoring Programme to law students and young lawyers in Nigeria.

The project Director, Barr. Bimpe Adeoye disclosed this during a phone interview with newsmen on Wednesday.

The virtual program is scheduled to hold on Monday 24th October 2022 till Friday 18th November 2022.

The mentorship program is designed for final year  law students and young lawyers in Nigeria.

The lawyer said Akinsola will intimate the participants the solutions to those challenges young lawyers are facing in the cause of their duties and how to navigate through.

According to her ‘there are 10 slots for final year students ,10 slots for law school students and 10 slots for young lawyers’

"This program is like giving back to the society. Young students who are graduates of  law and people who are still undergraduate of law would not be exempted, but the selection process would be based on merit.

"He would mentor them on how to target the best law firms for their internships and how to write a better Curriculum Vitae. Corporate commercial aspect of law will also be part of the sessions” Abioye said.

"The goal of the mentorship programme is to raise a cross section of young minds, who seek understand the applicability of knowledge to their business environments. The mentees are taken through the process of Action Learning and they would be exposed to business solutions in real times.

"The selection process might appear to be rigorous, but it worth the stress in the end. Participants that are interested,  could send an email to info@kayodeakinsola.com 

Over the years, Akinsola have assisted individuals and organisations achieve their corporate objectives. The core of his practice is to develop business plans and execute them. 

"While focusing on market trends, he writes company policy manual that regulates the staff activities. Kayode Akinsola had created business solutions that met and exceeded industry standards.

Kayode Akinsola is a Polymath, Policy Consultant and a business lawyer. With his over decades of his cumulative experience in Consulting, He has enjoyed patronage from many oorganizations in Africa as well as other continents of the world. He is the President of Queens Group Africa, a Professional services firm based in Nigeria.

Kayode Akinsola is an international conference speaker who has written many books and journals to his credit. He is Fellow of the Institutes of Management Consultants as well as Business Diplomacy.

Medicaid Foundation CEO, Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, Bags Fellowship of African Institute Of Public Health Professionals

On Sunday, 14th August  2022 in a tasteful event in Birnin Kebbi, Her Excellency, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, CEO, Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Member, Board of Directors- Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) was inducted as a fellow of the African Institute of Public Health Professionals for her outstanding contributions which have propelled significant innovation and progress in public health and cancer withing Nigeria and beyond.

Induction into the fellowship is a significant milestone in a public health professional’s career, in which their accomplishments are honoured by their colleagues within and outside the profession. Fellows are selected based on their remarkable contributions and impact to improve the health of people everywhere. This year, six (6) members have been awarded this honour by AIPHP because of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance public health in Nigeria.

In May 2022, the institute organised a 2-Day seminar on “Promoting African Health status through effective cancer prevention and control programs” held in Lagos, aimed to call for systematic action in terms of prevention and control interventions as a matter of social responsibility as well as addressing cancer mortality rates, high morbidity rate, high treatment cost, lack of awareness and misconceptions about cancer disease. Dr Bagudu was a guest speaker via zoom.

Speaking at the investiture in Birnin Kebbi,  Kebbi state,the Registrar of the Institute, Dr. Ayodele Bankole James FAIPH, said Her Excellency was made a Fellow of the Institute after going through her works, service to humanity and achievements as the Founder and the CEO of Medicaid Cancer Foundation, in the area of Cancer locally, Nationally and Globally as a Board Member at the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). Dr. Bagudu has spent the last seventeen (17) years advocating for cancer control. In addition, she brought her experience as a paediatrician to the role of First Lady of Kebbi in 2015. Working with in as the chief health advocate of the state, Kebbi has achieved many public health milestones. Top of the list is increase in immunisation coverage from 17% in 2015 to 85% today.

During her acceptance speech, Her Excellency Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu said “I am indeed very honoured by the conferral of this fellowshi”  She pledged to continue to put more effort into the good works she’s doing, especially in the cancer control space.

“We have to acknowledge the great role that Public Health plays in strengthening our health care system. For me, as a Clinician, as an Advocate, as a Mother, Public Health will always be a frontline issue that I must continue to play a role. The burden of Cancer is a Public Health Emergency and it’s one policy makers must recognize if we are to improve cancer awareness and early diagnosis.

Dr Ayoldele said in closing, “Let us honour Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu before her people in Kebbi, she is a worthy daughter of Africa, and the African Institute of public Health Professionals will mobilise support for your election as the UICC President-Elect in October and on behalf of AIPHP and members in Kebbi State, we appreciate your good work.”

“I am extremely proud to see Her Excellency honoured as a fellow, for her numerous advocacy and policy accomplishments,” said Hon. Jafar Mohammed, the Commissioner of Health, who was also a fellow member of the institute. He enumerated the achievements of the Kebbi State Government under the administration of Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu across the cancer continuum. Other Members of the Institute who were present at the occasion include, the E.S Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Abubakar Kaoje, Dr. Aisha Aminu Senchi, Dr. Labbo Gwandu. The occasion was also graced by the representatives of IHP, WHO, NGOs and CBOs in the State.

Hamzat, Ogunlewe, Demola Olisa, Others Hail Senator Adefuye @78

 

Eminent personalities within and outside Nigeria on Sunday, the 14th of August 2023 graced the 78th birthday celebration of former Distinguished Senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, Senator Anthony Adefuye at his Lagos residence.

Senator Anthony Adefuye is a top political ally of the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and also a member of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council, GAC.

Those in attendance cut across political, social, religious and ethnic divides.

 Chief among the dignitaries is the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat and the Chief of Staff to the governor of Lagos State, Mr Tayo Ayinde among other top government representatives who all came in droves to celebrate the man who most described as near to perfect politician.

Other notable personalities at the event includes APC leader in Somolu lagos, Hon. Demola Olisa Adefalujo, former Sole Administrator of Yaba LCDA, Hon. Bayo Adefuye, former Surulere Local Government Chairman, Hon. Ajide, Hajia Nafisat Tafawa Balewa, Dr Mrs Nike Akande, among others.

The one week long celebration event kicked off on Wednesday, 10th August, 2022 as the celebrant hosted all his political associates including over 30 Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Support Groups at his residence. DG Bola Tinubu/Shettima campaign organization and Former Minister For Communications, Engr Adebayo Shittu was among dignitaries on this day.

The celebration continued on Thursday, 11th August with the finals of the annual Senator Anthony Adefuye Under 16 football competition for male and female footballers at the NPA sports ground, Surulere, Lagos with some ex internationals in attendance.

On Friday, the Theater Art and Motion Picture Practitioners Association Of Nigeria, TAMPAN held it's annual OLUGBON DAY celebration in honor of the celebrant as part of the events put together for the birthday celebration of the political titan.

The celebrations continued on Saturday as the day was specially set aside for only family of the Adefuyes as Senator Adefuye hosted all his family members both Nuclear and extended, cutting across 4 generations to a family get-together at his residence.

Sunday, the 14th August was the final and the D-Day of Senator Anthony Adefuye birthday celebration and it lived more than expectations as every who is who in the society was either in attendance or sent In a representative.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State Dr Obafemi Hamzat and other top government functionaries were on hand to accompany the Adefuyes to the birthday Mass Celebration at St Dennis Catholic church Bariga Lagos, from there the celebration proceeded to the Lekki residence of the celebrant where some other political, social and business associates of Senator Adefuye all trooped in to celebrate with one of their own.

Senator Anthony Adefuye was a political disciple of late Yoruba leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and one of the strongest political allies of the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

London Conference: Nothing Unusual Happens Until Someone Does Something Unusual -Dr Okafor

 

The London spirit and Prosperity conference has enter day 3 with mind blowing Testimonies of how God Liberates many families and deliver some from battle stronger than them

The day 3 of the Prophetic conference was also climax with the words of God, healing and Deliverance

In his sermon with Topic "Ancestral and bloodlines noises and how to silence it" The lead pastor of Grace Nation international Dr Chris okafor emphasized that there is no battle that cannot come to end, he said the only battle that cannot come to end is the one you do not understand, the man of God said you must understand the battle you are facing otherwise it will consume you. Lot of people are fighting battles but did not know how to come over it, Dr okafor remarks that what you don't know is greater than you

There is no battles that you are fighting that is new, it has always been there, until you do something unusual before unusual things can happen in your life

Dr Chris Okafor affirmed that every battles have it's own key to solution, until you understand the kind of battle you are facing an apply the unusual principles,the battles remains, but when you deploy the unsual methodology, the battle become things of the past,the man of God remarks

The realms of the Prophetic at the conference took a new dimensions with accurate prophecy, Deliverance of all kinds,healings from different affliction to mention but few

The Generational prophet of God Dr Chris okafor attended to various case files of participants one after the other at the conference profiling permanent solutions, the Apostle of altars also visit altars behind people's predicament exposing the strong man behind those altars and setting the captive free, he also set the Marine kingdom on fire, there were instant Testimonies of Miracle babies everywhere at the conference

Meanwhile the Harvest of Babies conference 2022 will begin at the international Headquarters of Grace Nation in ojodu Berger Lagos Nigeria on Wednesday 24th -28th August 2022, over 2000 miracle babies will be receives by mother's, this is another opportunity for mother's to carry there miracle babies, don't be left out,

Teen Music Star, Phatiah, Wows Audience at 2022 Teen Think and MTN ATHF in Rwanda

 

At the 2022 of the Teens Think event which was an educative, interactive and leadership platform meant to provide avenue for teens to explore and utilize their potentials in a digitally savvy dimension of this undoubtedly forward-looking era, Fatiah Kanyinsola Ojediran, the teen music prodigy popularly known as Phatiah was on hand to do what she knows how to do with proficiency.

Like the never disappointing personality that she is which has been proven through her music efforts such as ‘Love Is All We Need,’ ‘Jeje’, ‘Education’, including her solo efforts and collaborations with other music acts, Phatiah definitely gave her age mates the inspiration needed for the event through her pop infused music.

Aside the inspiration, motivation and impetus she provided through her performance on 26th of July 2022 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, venue of the event, Phatiah certainly displayed to the admiration of those present, making a bold statement that she has step up with her stage craft, it was a blend of talent, exposure and experience all as tripodal incentives for the event.

After her scintillating performance at Teens Think in Lagos, the teenage music sensation, Fatiah got an invitation to perform on an international stage at the MTN sponsored ATHF festival held in Kigali, Rwanda.

The 2022 A Thousand Hill Festival (ATHF), an international music festival which had the likes of music icons such as Kizz Daniel, Sheebahkarungi, Bruce Melodie, Kivumbi King and others performing was indeed a landmark event for the rising star.

On Saturday, 13th of August 2022, Phatiah mounted the stage to render her notable tracks such as ‘Love Is All We Need’, to preach a message for humanity well-being, and “Halleluyah” her collaboration with Zlatan Ibile which is yet to be officially unveiled to the public and her teeming fans.

No doubt, Phatiah’s performance in Kigali, the lovely capital city of Rwanda is a testimony to the fact that Phatiah’s experience of performing on big stages such as the Lagos State Government’s One Fiesta Events, Lagos State Annual Thanksgiving, Kogi State Government Inauguration, private and corporate events reflected in the experience and confidence she exuded through her stage performance.

No doubt the “Jeje” crooner, Arise O’ Philanthropy awardee, Enya and Emperor Award winner, who has not rest on her oars since her debut, “Education” was released is indeed growing by leaps and bounds, stretching herself beyond barriers and breaking fallow grounds from national to international terrains.