[{"id":1687,"post_id":"90ca3ce4-9f2c-4eae-bdab-e05e7d71c156","title":"Ngelale and the Occasional Obstacles of Occupation ","category":"Opinion","subCategory":"","description":"

By Bala Ibrahim<\/strong><\/p>


<\/p>

In every profession, there is the permanent probability of work incident. It is a dangerous event that can occur in the course of an employee's activity, or time of service. It carries different names, depending on the nature of the work and the conditions in which the work activity is carried out. <\/p>


<\/p>

Some call it a professional risk, while others refer to it as a job threat. However, the generally adopted title for such professional problems or obstacles that occur in the course of duty is, occupational hazard. These hazards are classified into categories that vary according to the nature of the job. It can be biological. It can be chemical. <\/p>

And sometimes, it is a physical hazard. No matter the nature or type, it always comes with a consequence, the consequence of a setback.<\/p>


<\/p>

Up until yesterday, Saturday, 07\/09\/2024, Ajuri Ngelale was the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Media and Publicity. But, effective from that yesterday, he announced that he was proceeding on \u201can indefinite leave of absence from office\u201d. I put the indefinite leave of absence from office in inverted commas on purpose, because I believe, not too far from now, the story would expatiate further. <\/p>


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Something sensitive may follow. And the incident may dovetail with the platform of occupational hazard, encountered by the person that has resigned.<\/p>


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Although Ajuri had solicited the cooperation of everyone, to accord him the respect of privacy, in order to permit him pay attention to pressing family health challenge, by virtue of the position he held, and the volume or magnitude of attention it carries, such privacy may not necessarily come, particularly from his colleagues in the media, one of whom is, yours truly. <\/p>


<\/p>

Being a journalist, and having served at the Presidency, the peak of political interest, it would be extremely naive of him, to forget the action of paparazzi, whose assignment, mostly freelance, is to aggressively pursue celebrities for the purpose of taking candid photographs. <\/p>


<\/p>

And regardless of the situation, or the delicate nature of Ajuri\u2019s problems, a paparazzi is primarily obligated to the calling of his assignment, which is sensationalization. Yes, theirs is to present information in a way that tries to make it as shocking, or exciting as possible. And they often do it with photographs.<\/p>


<\/p>

Indeed, no sooner than Ajuri\u2019s appeal came out, and despite the time he spent explaining how he sent the memo of his resignation to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, alongside his plea for privacy, some of his colleagues, commenced communicating with conflicting contents. Some said they have carried out some checks, and the checks have revealed the reverse of what Ajuri wants the public to swallow, as his reasons for exiting the Presidency.<\/p>


<\/p>

They said, right from the day he took up the appointment on 31st July 2023, his reign was faced by turbulent attacks from some members of the cabal that are very close to the President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This means, that contrary to his submission, Ngelale did not resign. He was fired. By definition, he was dismissed.<\/p>

<\/p>

He said he resigned, to earn the sympathy of the public, but some of his colleagues have put out a hostile story to rubbish him. That is a jeopardy, and it falls in line with the meaning of occupational hazard. <\/p>


<\/p>

When you resign from an appointment, you have time to plan for your employment transition. This can take time. But when your employer terminates your appointment, depending on the circumstances, you may not have as much time to prepare for your next steps. The situation becomes disastrous for you, and falls in line with the definition of occupational hazard.<\/p>


<\/p>

Indeed every profession has its job hazards, but I think, probably because I am more familiar with it, public relations advisers, pollsters, or media consultants, particularly those working with high profile politicians, suffer the hazard of humiliation most. <\/p>


<\/p>

This is because, while on the job, they are made to sometimes develop, deceptive, or misleading messages as damage control, which are referred to as, spin doctoring. Yes, there is always the need for expert professional advisers at the heart of government, because government functionaries need to hear an alternative opinion to that of the civil service, especially from highly experienced media handlers. But on a number of cases, such spin doctors end up with terribly bad names. <\/p>


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They are called experts in wheeler-dealing, shoot-from-the-hip political spin doctors, that earn a living from the taxpayers money.<\/p>


<\/p>

And when the bubble bursts, they are clandestinely fired, while another one gets hired. That\u2019s an occupational hazard, to which many have suffered such fate at the Nigeria\u2019s seat of power, the Aso rock villa.<\/p>


<\/p>

I don\u2019t envy whoever is coming next, because the job does not have a bed of rosses. It always carries the keg of political problems, that have adverse consequences on the title holder. <\/p>


<\/p>

One of such consequences is being silently dismissed, but asked to openly say, you have resigned. Which is the occasional obstacle of occupation.<\/p>","slug":"ngelale-and-the-occasional-obstacles-of-occupation","picture":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/duclel6gj\/image\/upload\/v1725806751\/eho1i5fe3uibvqfdnlof.jpg","added_by":"Editor","tag":"","date":"1725806766"},{"id":1686,"post_id":"703d6ba5-5a52-4f12-b7d5-948a949aa240","title":"Edo Delays Schools Resumption Over Petrol Price Hike","category":"Civil Society","subCategory":"Education","description":"

Edo state government has announced an indefinite postponement of the resumption of all schools in the state over the increase in petrol price.<\/p>


<\/p>

Ojo Akin-Longe, Permanent Secretary (PS) of the State Ministry of Education, disclosed this in a memo on Saturday.<\/p>


<\/p>

Akin-Longe said the resumption, scheduled for September 9, is postponed until further notice.<\/p>


<\/p>

The memo reads;<\/p>


<\/p>

\u201cThe Edo State Government hereby announces the postponement of the resumption of all public and private schools in Edo State, originally scheduled for Monday, 9th September 2024, until further notice.\u201d <\/p>


<\/p>

 \u201cAn official statement from the government has directed that schools remain closed due to the tension arising from the recent increase in fuel prices and the challenges faced by parents and guardians.<\/p>


<\/p>

\u201cThe government urges parents, guardians, and caregivers to monitor the activities of their children and wards closely, given the current situation and the rising tension caused by the fuel price hike.\u201d<\/p>","slug":"edo-delays-schools-resumption-over-petrol-price-hike","picture":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/duclel6gj\/image\/upload\/v1725781813\/u7c9umg4abpy5rskmsxu.jpg","added_by":"Editor","tag":"Edo, Schools, Resumption, Postponed","date":"1725781918"},{"id":1685,"post_id":"c8164055-583f-431e-9a92-60463d4be257","title":"OPay to Charge Customers N50 for Electronic Transfer","category":"News","subCategory":"","description":"

Payment Service Bank (OPay), has announced a new charge on electronic transfers into personal and business accounts in compliance with Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) regulations.<\/p>


<\/p>

In a notice to its customers on Saturday, Opay announced that from Monday, 9 September 2024, it will charge a one-time fee of N50 on transfers of N10,000 and above.<\/p>


<\/p>

OPay clarified that the charges are requirements from the government and not a source of revenue for the payment platform.<\/p>


<\/p>

The notice read; <\/p>


<\/p>

\u201cDear valued customers, please be informed that starting September 9, 2024, a one-time fee of N50 will be applied for electronic transfer of N10,000 and above paid into your personal or business account in compliance with the Federal Inland Revenue Service regulations.\u201d <\/p>


<\/p>

\u201cIt is important to note that OPay does not benefit from these charges in any way as it is directed entirely to the Federal Government.\u201d <\/p>


<\/p>","slug":"opay-to-charge-customers-n50-for-electronic-transfer","picture":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/duclel6gj\/image\/upload\/v1725775599\/sbodytezjjszpg2gfgop.jpg","added_by":"Editor","tag":"","date":"1725775613"},{"id":1684,"post_id":"e17a8c95-f555-46bb-adf6-e754b3950fbf","title":"NAFDAC Signs MoU With Counter Terrorism Centre","category":"Peace and Security","subCategory":"","description":"

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Counter Terrorism Centre to tackle counterfeit drugs.<\/p>


<\/p>

The signing of the MoU is contained in a statement issued by the director-general of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.<\/p>


<\/p>

The National Counter Terrorism Centre is domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser.<\/p>


<\/p>

Adeyeye said the move was part of the National Action Plan to prevent the distribution of medicines used for terrorism, banditry, and violent extremism in the country.<\/p>


<\/p>

According to the NAFDAC boss, the MoU signed between the two agencies is significant in reducing deaths among youths.<\/p>


<\/p>

Adeyeye said the MoU would ensure that potential hazardous chemical threats that could have adverse effects on lives were adequately managed.<\/p>","slug":"nafdac-signs-mou-with-counter-terrorism-centre","picture":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/duclel6gj\/image\/upload\/v1725774806\/mxgj7wop0hdlhzh01xar.jpg","added_by":"Editor","tag":"NAFDAC, MoU, Terrorism Center","date":"1725774820"},{"id":1683,"post_id":"e77d2a1c-6f12-4d8b-88cb-1831ed80f7bb","title":"Kano postpones Schools Resumption Date","category":"Civil Society","subCategory":"","description":"

Kano State Government has postponed the resumption date of both Primary and Post Primary Schools for the commencement of the 2024\/2025 academic session.<\/p>


<\/p>

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Public Enlightenment of the Ministry, Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru on Saturday.<\/p>


<\/p>

Kiru quoted the Commissioner of Education, Umar Haruna Doguwa saying the decision is compelled by urgent reasons.<\/p>


<\/p>

The Commissioner disclosed that another day for the schools' resumption would soon be announced.<\/p>


<\/p>

\u201dI wish to inform pupils, students, and parents that the announcement earlier made for school resumption on 8th and 9th September 2024 is now being postponed due to some urgent reasons that would help in improving conducive learning atmosphere for our children. <\/p>


<\/p>

\"Another day for the resumption will be announced in due course \u201d the commissioner stated.\"<\/p>


<\/p>

The statement however appealed to the people concerned especially Students and Parents\/Guardians to bear with any inconvenience that may be caused due to the postponement.<\/p>","slug":"kano-postpones-schools-resumption-date","picture":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/duclel6gj\/image\/upload\/v1725774202\/qxaw7oqghh11arvnbzu0.jpg","added_by":"Editor","tag":"Postponed, Schools, Resumption, Date","date":"1725774480"}]