Radio Shows

Highlight of Episode 66 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme

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Episode 66 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme held on 7th May 2019 and it featured National Pension Commission (PenCom) for more enlightenment on Pension related matters.

The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of SERVICOM, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli appreciated the Ordinary President and the Brekete family for the sustained platform where citizens have been helped in accessing satisfactory services in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

She stated that the area of discussion for the day was of great interest as it affects retirees who are a vulnerable segment of the society, adding that she had had urged the Director General of the Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR) to listen to the programme as SERVICOM would strategically engage with the Bureau on how to review some pension reforms in order to eliminate difficulties faced by retirees or their relatives in accessing funds timely.

Mr Tijjani Aliyu, Head of Cooperate Responsibility and SERVICOM Nodal Officer PenCoM, said the Commission was established in 2004 to handle the contributory Pension scheme of employees of Treasury funded Ministries Department and Agencies, adding that new pension scheme  replaced the Defined Benefit Scheme.

According to him, “PenCom has tried over the years to improve on what we do to make things easier for people who are about to retire, we have an annual Verification exercise, unfortunately we have to engage in that annually in order to get every document from the individuals that are about to retire”.

Mr. Tijjani also mentioned that Verification exercises by PenCom are carried out solely for individuals that are about to retire and is therefore done only once for an individual. “The verification helps the agency capture all information about the individual and enables the agency compute the individuals retirement benefit” he said.

Highlight of Episode 65 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme.

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Episode 65 of the SERVICOM help desk Radio programme held on the 30th May 2019. The Public Awareness Manager, Miss Patience  Musa  conveyed the appreciation of the SERVICOM National Coordinator to the Ordinary President, the Brekete family and Nigerians for their support to the impacts of the  programme. Mr Emmanuel Ututah of the SERVICOM Public Awareness  Unit was also in the studio.

Taking a cue from the message of the Ordinary President on Family values, Miss Patience Musa advised parents and guardians to be close to their children or wards in order to know when things are going wrong so that they can intervene immediately they notice anything unusual.

She said this was one of the ways that we can have a better society since the family plays a vital role in the society.

Following the narration of a sister to Miss Zainab  Aliyu,  the Nigerian young lady who was sentenced to death by Saudi Arabian government for alleged Drug Trafficking and the proof that the sister was innocent of the offence, the SERVICOM representative lent her voice for the intervention of the Presidency and all relevant agencies, for the release of the innocent girl.

    Highlight of Episode 64 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme.

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Episode 64 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme held on the 23rd April 2019, the National Coordinator/Chief Executive of SERVICOM, Mrs. Nnenna  Akajemeli, who  wished everyone a happy Easter appreciated the Ordinary President of Brekete family for his support

She said the platform has afforded some Ministries, Departments and Agencies CEO’s the opportunity to tell Nigerians what they do in their organisations and the people are now better informed, while SERVICOM has helped some of the MDAs to establish similar platform like Public Complaints Commission (PCC)

“Citizens deserve better services and SERVICOM is interested in the sustained improvement of those services rendered to the citizens by MDAs”, the SERVICOM National Coordinator said..

She explained that NBTE had sent apologies for its inability to feature in the programme for that day as earlier scheduled, but assured that they will be around next week to attend to concerns raised.

The National Coordinator  appreciated the sign language presenter at the Brekete family Programme and noted that every MDA is supposed to have consideration for people with special needs and those with one disability or the other who as citizens, have the right to access quality services , be it in the Hospitals, Schools and other places.

According to the National Coordinator, during the JAMB exam in Owerri  Imo State, JAMB arranged a special centre for the Blind and Deaf through braille messages.

“This shows that JAMB is thinking of candidates with  special needs . Some Hospitals have also made provisions for those with special needs with provision of Wheelchair and marking of  their entrance for easy passage by the disabled or sick patients so service providers who have not done such are encouraged to make necessary consultation and do so” she said.

“Hospitals and School should have signage’s to direct even the illiterates among us  that come to take service, if we must drive through sustained improvement these are things we must do in line with best practices so that the citizens can enjoy the services provided as well as with what government is doing ”, the National Coordinator added.

She encouraged service takers to speak out when they encounter service failure so that we can hold the service providers more accountable and reduce the number of those treating people with impunity and increase those treating people well

The SERVICOM Boss gave an update on the issue of Baba Inuwa Madibbo the Custom Retiree and said through the intervention of SERVICOM, PENCOM is already processing his payment while the Nigerian Customs Service is supplying the necessary documents, “the matter is being handled with dispatch and his money will be paid”, she assured.

Mr. Tony Ochelebe of the Public Awareness Unit in SERVICOM Office  gave out  social media handles through which complainants can reach the SERVICOM office.

    Highlight of Episode 63 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme.

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The 63rd Episode of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme held on the 16th April 2019, the National Coordinator/Chief Executive of SERVICOM, Mrs  Nnenna Akajemeli  thanked those rendering services and urged those not rendering to do so.

The Public Awareness Manager, Miss Patience Musa gave update of some of the complaint handled by the SERVICOM office especially that the ex-savannah sugar company staff whose due payments would be made as soon as funds are made available from ministry of finance as well as the case of  Baba Inuwa Madibbo, a retired Custom officer who had issues with his Pension .

According to her progress has been recorded on this case as the retiree who never had a Pension Fund Administrator, has been speedily assisted to have one now, a development that would fast track the process of his pension payment.

On the complaint of Miss Blessing on her withheld certificate at the Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro, the Public Awareness Manager said officials of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) will be in the studio week to respond to the case being regulators of Nigerian Polytechnics..

The National Coordinator who decried the transition gap from being a worker to a pensioner and said this was a clear instance of service failure which the SERVICOM office would work on in collaboration with concerned agencies.

    Highlight of Episode 62 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme.

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Episode 62nd of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme held on the 9th April 2019, the National Coordinator/Chief Executive of SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli appreciated the Brekete Family  and reiterated that the strategy of bringing  MDA’s to the Programme was to hold them accountable for the services they have been set up to provide.

She said the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was in the studio to tell Nigerians how they  can access services rendered by the corps.

Commandant Beatrice Irabor, the Nodal Officer of the Corps said Civil Defence was initially a voluntary organisation, but on 28th June 2003 the Federal Government, under the NSCDC Act, approved the Corps as a National Security Agency under the Ministry of Interior.

She said in 2007 the Act was amended to give statutory backing to the Corps to among other things arrest, detain, investigate and institute Legal Proceedings in the name of the Attorney General of the Federation.

According to her the functions of the Corps also include; protection of critical infrastructure and national asset, Licencing of Private Guard companies, supervision of recruitment exercise and training for private guards.

The Public Relations’ Officer of the Corps, Deputy Commandant Okeh Emmanuel while shaedding more light on the day to day functions of the Corps, noted that the Corps has a very active SERVICOM Unit that attends to complaints and other service delivery related issues.

 

“when you have issues with NSCDC, meet the SERVICOM Nodal Officer  at  the National Headquarters Sauka and report your case or ask for the PRO, those outside Abuja can visit the State Command and ask of the SERVICOM  Focal officer to lodge their complaint”, he said.

He further explained that NSCDC has a Peace and Conflict Unit with Alternative Dispute Resolution Desk where issues that cannot be handled by SERVICOM can be referred to.

He appreciated Brekete family and SERVICOM  for the opportunity of inviting them to the Studio  and urged citizens to feel free to call NSCDC and report any issue.

The SERVICOM National Coordinator assured that SERVICOM would interface between the complainants and PTAD and PENCOM and thereafter bring a feedback on the issues raised by the complainants

  Highlight of Episode 61 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme.

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Episode 61 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme which held on the 2nd of April 2019, had the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as its guest, to enlighten Nigerians about services offered by the Commission in its fight against corruption.

The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna  Akajemeli appreciated  the Founder of the Brekete Family, “Ordinary President” Ahmad Isa for his immense contribution to the sustained success of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme, which commenced over a year ago.

On the case between Viko car hire service operator and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) the National Coordinator was happy to report that the case has been amicably resolved after series of reconciliatory meetings involving the two contending parties, SERVICOM Office and the Brekete Family.

“As I speak now, Viko’s stand has been restored at the Nnambi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja”, she confirmed, and sued for adherence to all agreements reached by the two parties in the course of reconciliation.

Public Awareness Manager who also gave a feedback on the  case between Miss Blessing Onu and the Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro  over non –release of her National Diploma Certificate, said the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has officially informed SERVICOM that the Board has investigated the matter and found  that the appeal by Miss Blessing lacked merit because she did not possess requirement for admission in the first place, while some discrepancies were discovered in her documents.

The Ordinary President at this juncture appealed that the ICPC should take over the matter and give a feedback by next week.

The ICPC  SERVICOM Nodal officer and  Deputy Director Mr. Olusegun Aremu who assured that the case will be properly investigated, gave insight into the workings of the Commission said ICPC was established in year 2000 with three main mandate of Enforcement, Preventive and Public Enlightenment / Education.

He said though ICPC is funded by the Government, it still looks into activities of government officials to stem corrupt practices that impede service delivery.

The Assistant Commissioner Public Enlightenment ICPC clarified that when cases are received, they are looked into to ascertain which ones are to be handled by the Commission as not all reported cases fall under the purview of the Commission.

He advised citizens that when they are asked to give bride by any law enforcement officer, they should secretly take the details of the officer and have as much evidence as possible and present such when reporting to the commission. “We have a special way of investigating undercover as long as there is enough evidence ’’ Mr. Aremu said.

No fewer than ten complainants who were present in the studio were asked to go with the team from ICPC for speedy resolution of their complaints.

  Highlight of Episode 60 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme.

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Episode 60 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme which held on the 26th of March 2019, featured the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). The National Coordinator / Chief Executive of SERVICOM, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli, appreciated the Ordinary President and the Brekete family and the TRCN Registrar Prof. Josiah Ajiboye who was personally in the studio with his Staff for the programme.

Prof. Ajiboye who thanked the SERVICOM Office and Ordinary President for the platform, said TRCN was established in 2004 to regulate the teaching profession in Nigeria, which had regrettably become an all comer’s affairs, as people without job are just advised to go and manage teaching.

“To regulate the teaching profession, government had to put this body in place and we are very serious with what we are doing now. Government has given a deadline of December 31st 2019 for all teachers to be registered and licenced by TRCN or else they will be removed from the class room by next year”, he said.

He said teachers are nation builders, who teach while others learn, noting that their importance called for a professional body as is obtainable in other professions, so as to weed out quacks and check against misconducts.

“By law, our mandate covers both government and private sector so we have conducted monitoring in the Six geo-political zones and we have concluded on those who have registered and are qualified”, TRCN Registrar disclosed.

Ordinary President raised the issue of the sack of teachers by the Kaduna state Government after an examination was carried out on them, to which the TRCN Registrar said the Council had conveyed its reservation to the state Government, as only the Council has the power to conduct exams for teachers.

Teachers have appealed that they will no longer take exams from anybody except TRCN, we organise the professional exams twice in a year in May and October and we have introduced Computer based tests so that teachers can be computer literate and you must pass the exam to be given a licence”, he said.

“We work in alliance with NUT to make sure teachers are not owed their salaries, and we pay advocacy visits to state government that owe teachers, we have Teachers Tribunal and Investigative Council where we take cases of misconduct to and we withdraw licence of teachers who are found wanting”, Prof. Ajibola explained.

Public Awareness Manager Ms. Patience Musa who gave feedback from intervention of SERVICOM on some complaints said, Airtel Network has advised one Mr. Emmanuel Orjika to go to court with his complaint against them, to which the Ordinary President said he would personally engage the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC for his intervention into the matter.

On the case of non-release of National Diploma certificate for one Miss Blessing Onu by the Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro. Ms. Musa said the SERVICOM Office was awaiting official position of the National Board of Technical Education and would convey to Brekete Family as soon as it was received, explaining that the response period for NBTE was yet to elapse.

Highlight of  Episode 52 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio  Programme.

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Highlight of  Episode 52 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio  Programme.

The Episode 52 of the Help Desk Radio Programme featured the FCTA Health Secretariat where Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, Chairman Hospital Management Committee led a Team of Doctors and SERVICOM Officers from Maitama, Wuse and Asokoro General Hospitals.

The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of SERVICOM, Mrs  Nnenna  Akajemeli in her opening remarks reflected on the forth coming elections and encourage all voters to go out and vote for the candidates of their choice on all election days in a peaceful and orderly manner.

‘’Citizens get involved in governance by their participation in the electoral process when they cast their votes’’, she said, adding that voting is a sacred thing where citizens participate in as part of their civic responsibility.

Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed who shed more light on the services of the Board as it affect healthcare delivery in the FCT, said deliberate efforts are made to ensure harmonious Team work amongst all health personnel in the hospitals, adding that the Triage system which was introduced in 2006 by SERVICOM Presidency has help in prioritising how patients are attended to based on the severity or complexity of their case.

Dr. O.Okeke of Wuse General Hospital explained that while carrying out their respective duties, staff of the Hospital have the role of helping patients to access all available services and creating friendly environment, adding that signage’s have been displayed to aid patients movement in the hospital.

The Ordinary President suggested that the various hospitals should create rooms where information and announcement could be disseminated to the hospital public in major languages through designated public address system; this was unanimously accepted by the Hospital representatives.

A caller in the programme for the visible presence of SERVICOM desk for patients to be able to make enquires or lodge complaints.

The National Coordinator who read out the time frame within which patients will be attended to as specified in the hand book of for Asokoro General Hospital appealed that such timelines should be adhered to and urged the general public to complain to the SERVICOM Desk in the hospital when they stay unattended to beyond the stated times.

She reiterated that the SERVICOM office will work with the FCT Hospitals Management Board to create SERVICOM Help Desk in all FCT Hospitals to enhance the visibility of SERICOM and help patients who are having difficulties in accessing appropriate health services.

Dr .Femi Obadofin of  Maitama General Hospital and Dr. O. Sulaiman of Asokoro General  Hospital where also in the studio.

 

Highlight of Episode 50 of the SERVICOM Help desk Radio Programme

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Highlight of Episode 50 of the SERVICOM Help desk Radio Programme

Episode 50 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme held on the 5th of February 2019 and featured the National Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) with the Director General, Dr. Dan Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim in the studio.

After the appreciation of the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of SERVICOM Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli, the Director General of NOTAP Dr. Dan Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim explained that his office was set up to regulate inflow of foreign technologies Into the country.

He noted that more than 90% of technologies powering various sectors in the Country were imported, saying the implication is that the country invests lot of money in the purchase of foreign technologies thereby creating job opportunities for foreign nations rather than its citizens.

He also added that technologies meant to be sustaining the country are expected to be generated from Nigerian higher Institutions and Research Institutions, noting with regret that most of these Institutions don’t do in-depth researches that would translate to products and services.

“NOTAP is by mandate required to facilitate such innovations and technologies as well as provide intellectual patency to inventors, “ he said and urged Nigerians to also consult his Office before signing any business agreement with foreign partners.

Owing to the need for citizens to be more enlightened on how they can benefit from the services of NOTAP, the anchor of the Programme, Ahmad Isah A.K.A Ordinary President, requested that the DG NOTAP should be in the studio on Saturday for an exclusive session, to which the DG consented.

EPISODE 49 OF THE SERVICOM HELP DESK RADIO PROGRAMME

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EPISODE 49 OF THE SERVICOM HELP DESK RADIO PROGRAMME

Episode 49 of the SERVICOM Help Desk Radio Programme held on the 29th January 2019 and discussion for the day was centred on public health services in the Federal Capital Territory, with representatives of the F.C.T.A Health Management Board as guests in the Studio.

The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of SERVICOM,  Mrs. Nnenna  Akajemeli said the FCTA Health Secretariat was brought to the studio to let out useful information to the public on access to Health care Services in the FCT.

Dr.  Abdullahi  Mohammed, Ag. Director, FCT Hospital Management Board  and Chairman FCT Hospital Monitoring Committee who led the Team from the FCTA, explained that the Board manages a total number of fourteen hospitals in the F.C.T. and all Health Care facilities in order to ensure affordable and effective health care delivery to the people.

“We have established SERVICOM Units in all the hospitals so that patients are better served”, he said and urged customers of the hospitals to always report when they are not satisfactorily served.

The host of the Brekete Family Programme, Ahmad Isah A.K.A Ordinary President, suggested that dedicated SERVICOM Help Desks should be established in all the 14 FCT hospitals to make SERVICOM more visible  as this would help patients to  easily lodge complaints, a suggestion which the National Coordinator and Dr. Mohammed agreed to look into as soon as possible.

Commenting on the need for harmonious working relationship between Doctors and other personnel in hospitals as advocated by the Ordinary President, Mr Joe Okairo, who was in the studio sued for team work amongst Doctors and all other medical and Health workers in the overall interest of patients.

SERVICOM National Coordinator recalled an incidence where a pregnant woman died in one of the FCT Hospitals because a nurse sold wrong medication to her, adding that reports from a “mystery shopping” conducted by SERVICOM Office showed that some nurses were in the habit of selling drugs to patients. She  urged the FCT Health Management Board to look into such sharp practices.

Dr. Mohammed  who decried the general poor ratio of patients to Doctors, assured that all feedback from the programme will be used for service improvement in the FCT hospitals, adding that the Board was working on improving work attitude of Doctors and health service providers.

Mrs Ngozi Ayam who is also of the FCTA Health Management Board encouraged members of the public to contact the SERVICOM Units of the hospitals if they have any complaints and gave the number 08037510320 for  complainant to call, adding that on display in  all FCT Hospitals are specific numbers that complaints could call.