Mohammed Shosanya
The Director-General of the National Productivity Centre (NPC), Dr Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi,says paying workers a minimum wage of N250,000 will not necessarily boost their productivity, neither will it discourage them from corrupt tendencies.
According to him,instituting a reward system or timely payment of allowances and other legitimate entitlements would boost workers productivity.
He spoke in Abuja while giving a presentation with labour reporters on the centre’s achievements in the last four months
He said he has assumed office with several initiatives aimed at improving staff welfare and increasing productivity across sectors.
He noted that workers are not so inclined to their basic salary but place more values on their basic allowances and incentives to perform effectively, without which productivity declines and duties compromise.
He stated that NPC under his leadership has introduced several welfare initiatives, including retirement packages, transport and health care support and capacity building for enhanced skills and productivity.
He disclosed plans to further institutionalise productivity in Nigeria, including; establishing productivity units in all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), expanding the Productivity and Quality Improvement Programmes (PQIP) to strengthen SMEs and launching of a national productivity movement.
He said Nigeria must make concerted efforts to optimise it’s resources, enhance competitiveness, and achieve collective prosperity.
He added:“Before I came, I understood that one of the major challenges faced by the staff of the agency is welfare. Workers need basic incentives and allowances to function effectively, they need their allowances timely, or else they might be pressured into compromising their work.
“We have introduced a retirement incentive scheme to support our staff transitioning out of service. Directors retiring from the centre receive up to two million Naira, while other retiring staff receive a minimum of 500,000 Naira, this is part of our effort to appreciate their service and ensure they leave with dignity.
“In the coming years, we will consolidate our achievements while pursuing goals like acquiring a corporate headquarters, digitising administrative processes, and establishing productivity units across MDAs. Our aim is to make the national productivity Centre one of the best in Africa and ensure productivity becomes a household term in Nigeria.”
