The Zonal Coordinator of the South-West Zonal Office of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. James Imohiosen has charged members of staff to eschew indolence, as it shall not be condoned as long as he remains the head of the Institute’s South-West Zonal Office.

Imohiosen, who gave this warning on Monday, 5th October, 2015 in his maiden meeting with members of staff of the zone, welcomed newly transferred staffers to the zone, charging them to be hard working and steadfast with their duties, which is the only way for them to sustain their jobs, and equally admonishing them to always keep themselves busy by engaging in meaningful activities that will enhance their productivity, rather than engaging in vain talks which are inimical to the image of the Institute.

He expressed displeasure with staffers’ lackadaisical attitude of leaving the office at will, without due permission, and urged them to always obtain permission from their respective Heads of Departments or Units before embarking on any movement outside the office premises.

Commenting on the issue of attendance, the Zonal Coordinator advised staffers to avoid coming late to work and always sign the attendance register at the time of resumption and at the close of work, adding that he will not shield anybody who perpetrates or engages in truancy and thus cannot be responsible for any misdemeanour of such erring staffers.

On dress code, Imohiosen reminded staffers of the standing Management ‘Dress Nigerian’ policy to the effect that, members of staff shall dress culturally on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with the exception of Tuesdays and Thursdays, when they are free to dress in English attires, except wearing of jeans and T-shirts. 

The Zonal Coordinator, however, expressed satisfaction with the sense of maturity exhibited among the staffers and admonished them to always show respect for their superior officers as the culture of respect is one of the major crusades in NICO, just as he also advised them to show love for one another by way of visiting and assisting one another in times of need.

While appreciating the Zone’s welfare scheme, Imohiosen urged them to extend their hands of fellowship to Mr. Gideon Adegbaju, who was involved in a ghastly motor accident along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway and is currently undergoing treatment in Ibadan.

To further enhance productivity and for staffers to have knowledge cut across other departments and units, Imohiosen, who promised to carry out general redeployment of staffers from their various units to others, except for the professional ones, such as Accounts, Audit and Budget, further acknowledging some proposals from the Research and Documentation and Orientation and Cultural Affairs Departments and attributing the non-implementation to paucity of funds.

He promised to embark on the implementation of some of them as soon as funds are released to the zone, promising specifically to round off the year with the End of Year Children’s Cultural Extravaganza, as he has got the nod from the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dr. (Mrs.) Modupe Catherine Akinroye on possible areas of collaboration during his courtesy visit earlier to her office.

While appreciating the Corporate Affairs Unit for an outstanding performance and commitment to duty, the Zonal Coordinator charged staffers not to be oblivious of the Public Service Rules (PSR) as the guiding principle of every public servant, and not to allow the law to catch up with anyone because ‘ignorance,’ they say, ‘is not an excuse in law.’

Mr. Imohiosen also promised to operate an open-door policy to give room for advice, complaints and suggestions from staffers, but noting that he is at liberty not to accept all advices as he is human and not God.

There were questions from staffers in the interactive session and answers to such questions and explanations were given by the Zonal Coordinator.

      

Mustapha Alfanla & Olumide Akinsote

Corporate Affairs Unit

NICO SWZ