News 2

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.