02 Jan A Year of Harvest

2022, A Year of Harvest: DG, NLRC 

Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission has commended and appreciated the hard work and commitment of the staff of the Commission in the previous year and asked them to re-dedicate themselves to duty in the New Year. 

The Director-General, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila (3rd right) and other Directors during the meeting

The DG who gave this commendation in a meeting with staff of the Commission at the headquarters office in Abuja acknowledged that the year would be a year of harvest for the Commission and asked all staff to expect improved welfare in the new year. 

Mr. Gbajabiamila charged all Heads of Departments and Units to submit their road map for the year 2022 which includes their target and job description before the end of February 2022 adding that it will serve as a guide that will aid in achieving the Commission’s collective goal. 

The DG congratulated all staff who scaled through the recently concluded Confirmation and promotion exams and said that the result awaits approval by the Commission’s Governing Board. 

He advised all staff to always observe all COVID 19 protocols in line with the Federal Government’s directive on curtailing the spread of the disease. 

According to the DG, the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19 has mandated all Public servants to either present a negative COVID 19 test result or a vaccination card as evidence for having taken the vaccine. 

In view of the above, Mr. Gbajabiamila promised to make available a COVID 19 vaccination booth on the Commission’s premises to enable staff of the Commission to comply with the said directives on COVID 19. 

On the issue of the Central Monitoring System {CMS}, the DG stated that it would be deployed as soon as Mr. President gives his final approval. According to the DG, all processes leading to the deployment of the CMS have been completed. He said that the Hon. Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Dr. George Akume upon resumption, will present it to Mr. President and Federal Executive Council for final approval. 

Mr. Gbajabiamila further stated that the CMS will not only ease the Commission’s responsibilities but will ensure all lottery proceeds due to the government is garnered as well as enhance staff salary and allowances. He noted that the Commission would soon be a force to reckon with as a revenue-generating agency. 

In the same vein, the DG said that the National Game will commence soon as an agreement with the promoters has since been signed. 

Concerning the Condition of Service, the DG said the Commission’s Management awaits a response from the National Income Salaries and Wages Commission as well as the Ministry of Special Duties. He said that the success recorded so far on the Condition of service is a collective effort of all stakeholders in the industry. 

Concerning staff training and capacity building, the DG pledged his commitment to ensuring that all staff both at the headquarters and Zonal offices are trained as this will enhance staff input and contribution towards the Commission adding that staff welfare will remain a major focus of the Management in the year 2022. 

A cross-section of staff at the meeting

According to the DG, it has become imperative for every staff to sign the Oath of Secrecy, as prescribed by the Public Service Rules. He said staff will henceforth be sanctioned for revealing official information without authorization and that consequences abound for contravening the oath. 

The DG advised all staff to depict office etiquette and be of good conduct as indiscipline within the workforce will no longer be tolerated. He further advised staff to take the of-fice attendance seriously by way of signing in and signing out on the register as the attendance will be collated and sent to the Head of Service at the end of every month. He said that going forward; the staff bus will leave early in the mornings to enable staff to keep to the official resumption time of 8am. 

The DG reiterated the need for all staff to embrace unity, and eschew back-biting and the spread of propaganda and fake news, he advised staff to only seek information from credible sources. 

Mr. Gbajabiamila maintained he operates an open door policy but that all complaints by staff must be addressed through the proper channels, which is, from Heads of Units and Departments. 

He promised to visit all operational locations of the Commission in the course of the year and that Coordinators will be duly informed before each visit. 

The DG noted the existence of a new Labour Union in the Commission known as Senior Staff Association of Statutory Co-operation and Governmental Owned companies (SSASCGOC). He encouraged staff to exercise their right to belong to the old or new staff union and that staff also have the right not to belong to any of the staff Unions. 

Mr. Gbajabiamila however expressed his dismay at the re-occurring challenges with regards to end-of-year welfare pack-age given to the staff of the Commission in recent times. He said that going forward; the end-of-year package will be monetized in addition to the Peculiar allowance for the month of December. 

As regards the previous year’s welfare package that prompted a lot of complaints from staff, the DG said that the rice con-tractor has been mandated to replace all rice supplied to the Commission. 

By Nwabundo Victoria