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CONFERMENT OF NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY ORDER OF MERIT AWARD (NPOMA)

The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency Umaru Musa Yar’adua, GCFR, recently approved the conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit on Twenty-Nine individuals and seven organizations in Nigeria, for their meritorious services, hardwork and excellence in their various fields of endeavour.

The awardees were as:

1. Mallam Isah UGURU

2. Engr. Shamsideen ELEGBA

3. Engr. Markus GUNDIRI

4. Alh. Abulkareem GURIN

5. Chief (Mrs) G.U. ESEONU

6. Group Captain I.A. ODUNAYO

7. Master Warrant Officer UBANA

8. Master Warrant Officer Precious IDE

9. Warrant Officer Emmanuel AGIENDE

10. Mr. Ahmed Sani KURA

11. Prof. Sam ALE

12. Mr. Paul UDO

13. Prof. Mathew AGU

14. Navy Captain Andrew ALOKU

ORGANISATIONS:

1. Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Abuja

2. DAAR Communications

3. Mr. Biggs

4. NAFDAC, Abuja.

5. Vee Tek Nigeria Ltd, Aba, Abia Sta te

6. Tofa General Enterprises

7. Students’ In-Free-Enterprise, (SIFE), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

THE ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY ORDER OF MERIT AWARD (NPOMA)

On the 21^st of February, 1990 at the launching of Operation Excellence in service (OPEX) in Lagos, the Federal Government declared that the 21^st of February of every year shall be observed in Nigeria as a National Productivity Day (NPD). Following this declaration, the first NPD was successfully observed on the 21^st February, 1991, at National, State and Local Government Levels throughout the country.

The National Productivity Day has the following objectives:

i) To institutionalize productivity consciousness and excellence in service among workers and organizations in both the Public and Private Sectors in Nigeria, emphasizing on hardwork, high performance, efficiency, discipline, dedication, humility and patriotism;

ii) To accord workers and organizations proper and due recognition for hardwork, high productivity and research achievements;

iii) To identify and reward productive workers and organizations in both the public and private sectors of the economy.

A major component of the NPD is the National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOMA). The machinery was set in motion for the conferment of the first National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOMA) on the 10^th of September 1991 when the then Honourable Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity inaugurated a 12-member high powered panel with the mandate to:

a) select qualified organizations and individuals who have scaled through the stated criteria for the National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOMA);

b) comply with the prescribed National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOMA) criteria for both organizational and individual National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOMA) without succumbing to any extraneous influence or subjective consideration;

c) protect the dignity and integrity of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOMA).

The present panel whose membership cuts across diverse economic sectors, comprises highly distinguished Nigerians of proven integrity drawn from both the public and private sector organizations. The organizations include: the Presidency, Federal Civil Service Commission, Nigeria Employer’s Consultative Association (NECA), Manufacturer’s Association of Nigeria (MAN), Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, some distinguished Nigerians in their own right, Director-General of National Productivity Centre (NPC) and Secretary who executes the day to day functions of the panel.

In instituting the National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOMA), government is fully aware of the social, political and economic implications of productivity. Without visible level of productivity in any nation, employment generation opportunity cannot be guaranteed.

Essentially, productivity is the most important determinant of real economic growth, social progress and improved standard of living. In fact, changes in productivity are recognized as influencing many social and economic issues, such as rapid economic growth, higher standard of living, improvement in a nation’s balance of payment and inflation control. These changes are functions of wage levels, cost/price relationships, capital investment needs and employment.

Consequently, the need to consolidate the achievements recorded by the various economic sectors makes the quest for higher productivity more urgent than ever before. Undoubtedly, higher productivity will help to alleviate any country’s economic problems of inflation, adverse balance of trade, poor growth rate and unemployment. It also stimulates price stability, higher standard of living and capacity utilization. At both the individual and corporate levels, the National Productivity Order of Merit Award is a thoughtful incentive scheme designed to positively affect productivity.

At the individual level, negative and deviant behaviours like truancy, carelessness, tardiness, improper use of time, indolence, inefficiency, insubordination, dishonesty, bribery and corruption cannot give rise to productivity nor yield a buoyant economy. Rather, great nations are built through the sweat of their citizenry who are committed to noble attributes such as expertise, job performance, dedication, hardwork, initiative, creativity, honesty, reliability, self discipline, moral leadership, responsibility, punctuality, teamwork, contribution to the building of communities and organizations, and good human relations.

At the corporate level, the National Productivity Order of Merit Award seeks to acknowledge organizations that are self-reliant in their adaptation and application of technology in order to guarantee for themselves cost effective operation and productive efficiency. Also, the award recognizes companies which show a trend for sustained increases over the years in such vital areas as local sourcing of raw materials, capacity utilization, sales turnover, profitability, employee welfare schemes and training facilities. An economy that generates good employment opportunities and respectable quality of life for its citizens is what productivity is all about. Service organizations are also judged on their ability to render cost effective services which do not inflict pain on their consumers.

Since inception, 187 individuals and 34 organisations have been honoured with the NPOMA. As more companies and individuals come to be recognized and rewarded for higher productivity through the National Productivity Order of Merit Award, the foundation for productivity consciousness and improvement shall have been laid in Nigeria.

NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE HOSTS GOVERNING COUNCIL

MEETINGS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT RETREAT

The Governing Council of the National Productivity Centre held its first quarter meeting on the 23^rd January, 2010 at Monty Suites, Edet Akpan Avenue Uyo.

2. The meeting was held immediately after a Senior Management/Governing Council Retreat held at the same venue for the 21^st – 22^nd January, 2010.

3. The Retreat which was convened to chart a new course for the National Productivity Centre was declared open by the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio. In attendance at the opening ceremony were the past Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, the Chairman Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Senator Wilson Ake and the Vice Chairman, House Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga.

4. Papers presented at the Retreat included the following:

(a) Overview of Programmes and activities of National Productivity Centre.

(b) Review of 2009 Programmes and activities and presentation of 2010 programmes.

(d) Presentation on strategies for productivity and competitiveness enhancement in Nigeria.

(e) Repositioning the Centre for more effective performance etc.

5. The Governing Council used these meetings to strategize on ways and means of implementing the resolutions of the retreat towards making National Productivity Centre a model and reference point among productivity institutions.

6. The National Productivity Centre Governing Council has the following membership:

(1) Arc. (Hon) Innocent M. Agbo - Chairman

(2) Chief Bassey E.O. Edem, FCA - Rep. NACCIMA

(3) Mrs. Titi T. Bakare - Rep. NECA

(4) Mr. Iheama-Chanma C.N. - Rep. CMD

(5) Prof. Ajibola Kumuyi - Rep. NISER

(6) Comrade O. Irabor - Rep. NLC

(7) Comrade John Kolawole - Rep. TUC

(8) Dr. Ezinne Nwadinobi, mni - Rep. Nat. Plann. Comm.

(9) Mr. M.C. Illoh - Rep. F.M.L & P

(10) Dr. Paul M. Bdliya - DG, NPC

The main objective of the retreat was to develop better strategies for achieving the Centre’s mandate, while the specific objectives were to:

i. Review the programmes, activities and strategic plan of the Centre;

ii. Generate creative and innovative ideas that would advance the Centre from the participants;

iii. Provide an interactive forum for feedback and cross fertilization of ideas;

iv. Produce resolutions on the way forward for the Centre; etc.

TECHNICAL SESSIONS

The following technical papers were presented at the retreat:

i. Overview of Programmes and Activities of the National Productivity Centre.

ii. Review of 2009 Programmes and Activities and Presentation of 2010 Programme Proposals.

iii. Productivity Movement in Nigeria: The Role of Stakeholders.

iv. Strategies for Productivity and Competitiveness Enhancement in Nigeria (SPCEN)

v. Repositioning the National Productivity Centre for more Effective Performance.

RECOMMENDATIONS/RESOLUTIONS

At the end of the syndicate group discussions/plenary sessions, the following resolutions were made:

1. Role of the stakeholders: specific roles were identified for the various stakeholders which include:

A. Government:

i. Appropriate legislation;

ii. Create enabling environment;

iii. Create the political will to execute productivity programmes;

iv. Enact good policies;

v. Ensure proper coordination and networking with all levels of government;

vi. Provide adequate funding for productivity activities;

vii. Provide institutional framework;

viii. Provide infrastructure; and

ix. Establish a National Productivity Fund

B. National Productivity Centre:

i. Set up National Productivity Advisory Council with membership drawn from State Governments, Organized Private Sector, NPC governing Council, Trade Unions, Past National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOMA) Award winners, Academia and Civil Society Organisations;

ii. Set up State Advisory Councils composed of local government, organized private sector in the states, Labour Unions Academic Institutions etc;

iii. Set up Local Advisory Councils composed of traditional institutions, ii) community based organisations, local entrepreneurs, the informal sector, labour unions etc;

iv. Establish offices in all States of the Federation for effective coverage;

v. Coordinate the setting up of SPCs and clubs in institutions;

vi. Act as Secretariat for the National Productivity Council;

vii. Coordinate Productivity Clubs in educational institutions and coach members adequately;

viii. Act as a catalyst and driving force for the implementation of the roles and functions of its mandate;

ix. Identify, promote and develop national capabilities for enhanced Productivity and Competitiveness; and

x. Diffuse information to mobilize and build effective networks.

C. Organised Private Sector (OPS):

i) Ensure adequate capacity building within the enterprise/sector;

ii) Inculcate productivity mindset within the enterprise/sector;

iii) Institute appropriate reward system as a motivational tool to

encourage continuous improvement; and

iv) Collaborate more closely with NPC

D. Organised Labour

• Develop a productivity mindset amongst it’s members;

• Be innovative and creative in approach to tasks and activities;

• Be committed to the acquisition of knowledge and skills for improved performance; and

• Ensure industrial peace and harmony.

E. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)

• Act as mobilizers;

• Serve as check to all actions that create impediments to productivity growth; and

• Ensure good governance.

F. Academia:

• Collaborate with the NPC to evolve appropriate curricula for Productivity education;

• Conduct relevant researches on Productivity issues;

• Publish books and materials on Productivity issues;

• Disseminate information on productivity through seminars, workshops and conferences; and

• Promote University- Industry linkages.

G. Legislature:

• Enact legislation on productivity issues;

• Support the Productivity agenda/initiative by appropriating adequate funds for NPC programmes/activities;

• Carry out effective oversight on labour and productivity; and

• Participate in all Productivity Awareness Campaigns and advocacy programmes.

2. Repositioning NPC: it was resolved that management should:

i. Sustain the capacity building programmes for NPC staff;

ii. Establish a framework for benchmarking with world class NPOs;

3. On current programmes and activities: The following resolutions were made:

a) That researches should be adequately funded and that all policy reports emanating from these researches should be out by January, of the following year.

b) Time tables for Workshops/Seminars should be finalized by November of the preceding year of implementation;

c) That Productivity and Quality Improvement Programmes should focus on specialized institutions and sectors for quick wins.