₦airaland Forum

Thankfully she's not in Nigeria. Sanni Yerima and im cohorts for don dey eye am.

Lagos.
That was were I was born and brought up.
That is where my heart will always be.

The last person wins what?

Guys beware: Not all the green snake you see in my village (Okposi) is revered. The OP should have stated categorically that Aka is the one the people gives its space.
My maternal uncle (now deceased) happened to be the one in charge of the shrine established for it in Ngbom Enu by the people of Okposi (and he is the last male in their lineage, so I don't know how the thing would be handled now)
Anyway, folklores have it that Aka has always been around but the respect of the people grew for it when the white men invaded my village and Aka trooped out in it's hundreds and chased them out of the area.
But like every other thing revered by people, there is a kind of spirituality associated with it, which makes the people insist it be given a burial similar to that of humans. So many religious people have tried killing it while damning the consequences and had had things happen to them: Some ran mad, others fell ill with unexplainable diseases; some who even killed it without mentioning it were tormented till spiritually till they confessed and the usual rites were performed.
Some people even speak to it and it listens (I've witnessed it when one of my old aunt was warning it when it slid into our compound when we were around, she was warning it that if anything happens to it that it was on its own as we - the kids - don't know it is and the snake went away immediately)
I'm not trying to scare anybody, neither am I saying the snake is anything of importance to me as an individual cos I don't believe it has anything to offer me, but like my mother (bless her soul) will always tell us, "Give onto Cesar what belongs to Cesar and give onto God what belongs to God. Stare clear of the snake and it will stay away from you"

How many times she go do bornday in a year?

This is just like saying your are offering more petrol to a arsonist to quench a raging fire.

Na proper lie! Well, as far as PH is concerned, it doesn't work here cos they said they don't have a bar code scanning machine. After wasting all the time I did to apply online, I took the print out to the enrollment centre only to be fed bull crap; besides, sebi dem say the card go ready a week after? This na 3rd month after I do the registration and e never ready.

Make una no vex or ban me o, I'm just trying to make an observation: Is there something wrong with HRH's eyes? In the first picture, he doesn't seem to be paying attention to what the Benin chief is telling him or is it that something else caught his attention. In the second one, his mind seem to be else where. And the third picture (with the Omo N'Oba) he seems to be talking to someone that is not there.
Hope it is not what I am thinking

django1: I'm not sure that river is deep enough to berth container ship.

They can always dredge it; the did same thing at the Onne Free Zone. It is nothing impossible.
In fact, they used the sand dredged from the water in Onne to reclaim land in some parts of the free zone.

Sometimes, I know you have a very important message to pass but you have a very bad writing skills. So, with this particular post, what's your point exactly?

First it was Lagos, then Enugu and Abj followed by Ilorin and Ibadan. Now it is Onitsha. When will they come to PHC? I'm so used to them that I feel I'm wasting money in Park & Shop and Everyday SM

Segeggs: Apology or no apology, one thing i know is that we have seen a fragment of the heart of the two pastor's children which i think is opposite what their church's doctrine stand for. I'll call it all hypocrisy.

And who appointed you judge and jury? Why not live your own life and let Him be the judge of men?

No be them o! Na their look alike!!! Look closely and you will notice it.
Kanye jaw line wide pass this guy own and he does not have pot belly; them two chin sef no be the same. Kim K pout na one in town. This gal is forcing it.
Chai! Wetin people no go do for publicity.

My brother, let me pay you 75k and pick it up today. What do you day?

@OP: This your topic is confusing; abeg, no vex, shouldn't it be "South Africa Now Visa-Free For Nigerian
Official/Diplomatic Passport Holders"?
Abi does it mean I can waltz into SA without a visa as long as I'm with a green passport? Which day SA join ECOMOG?

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) is a bank that prides itself as a foremost Nigerian financial institution that fosters a culture of openness in which healthy debate is encouraged. Over the last two decades, the bank has grown from strength to strength thus making it a preferred institution for young Nigerians who aspire to become seasoned bankers.

Why join GTBank?
On the bank’s website, it justifies the reason to work for the bank by stating that “We are, first and foremost, a Learning Organization. We understand that being an employer of choice goes beyond the regular pay package. It involves listening, training, mentoring, a genuine concern for what people really care about, and acting upon them. In essence, it involves connecting to people’s hearts.” Superb! No better way to introduce this great institution to an aspiring or established professional in Nigeria’s banking sector.

The bank doesn’t stop at that; it goes on to say that “a career at Guaranty Trust Bank offers you a chance to make a difference in your life and the lives of people in your immediate community. Throughout our history, we have continued to help our staff realize their dreams, whilst creating opportunities for them to fulfill their personal and professional potential.”

Over the last 20 years, GTBank has been very successful with their people. The bank has been able to pass the vision of its founders down to every staff of the bank. Through their training consultants, Learners and Trainers and IBFC, new employees go through comprehensive entry training programs that span between 2-3 months getting fired up. They come out proud with their orange IDs, they believe so much in the bank’s vision, “we are a team driven to deliver the utmost in customer service.” While other bankers are hopping from one bank to the other seeking the next level, they strictly remain loyal. They strongly believe that a rolling stone gathers no moss. Ask anyone around about a GTBanker and they will tell you how they cherish and proudly defend the brand.

Exactly two years ago today, that story changed. GTBank lost its revered Managing Director and co-founder, Tayo Aderinokun. Tayo just like Fola Adeola was a leader who stood out in every aspect of the bank including the welfare of his staff. He was indeed the most respected CEO within and outside the bank. An award he later received from PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2008. Tayo’s demise ushered in a new leadership in the bank, one that appears determined to change what hitherto was a chance to make a difference in the lives of its people and that of those in their immediate community.

On Thursday 23rd May, 2013, GTBank reduced itself from an institution highly regarded in banking sector as the most respected corporate bank in Nigeria, renowned for both its professionalism and high ethical standards to a callous employer of labour. It decided to tow the path of ignominy by unjustly sacking over 100 staff of the bank.

The bank was quick to go to press to state that it had sacked 100 and promoted 500. What the bank did not tell was how it carried out its exercise and if it fulfilled all obligations as required by law. http://www.punchng.com/business/money/gtbank-sacks-100-workers-promotes-500/

Reasonable Notice
To start with, where in the world do you notify people of your decision to sack them with their inability to log in to their various systems at work? Logging in to your computer system to commence the day’s operation at work was not a celebrated activity in GTBank until Segun Agbaje decided to change the face of banking that blessed Thursday. There couldn’t have been a more befitting and professional way of telling someone who had diligently and effectively worked in your institution for years that his/her services were no longer required. So many people who had saved personal items such as training materials and notes on their systems could not access their documents and files. Why? It was time to go. They were suddenly advised to contact the Human Resources (HR) department. An Assistant Manager in the head office wept. What brought tears to his eyes wasn’t the sack but the way they were dispersed from an institution they lived for like lepers. The bank was even kind enough to tell another lady who was bitter because her team met their budget for the financial year under review during her appraisal to put a new person through.

So much genuine concern for indeed helping their staff realize their dreams, whilst creating opportunities to fulfill their personal and professional potential. In the words of a Deputy General Manager who left GTBank some years back to join another top bank, “GTBank just cheapened its staff”.

The most pertinent question to then ask is why did GTBank decide to sack some staff? With the Lamido Sanusi tsunami that swept away some CEOs in the banking industry, came massive retrenchment of bankers. Thousands were laid off in defunct banks like Intercontinental and Oceanic with the new interim management teams claiming they had to downsize in order to put these banks back in healthy operation. Their reasons to some extent were valid. However, considering GTBank’s recently declared PBT of N100B, the issue had to be something else, may be performance.

The decision to sack was made after the bank’s appraisal of its staff where those who had low scores (B) were told to leave as directed by Segun during the appraisal meeting. What he failed to address was the lingering issue of victimisation and subjective appraisal by team leaders and bosses who have become tyrants in the bank. Most of these bosses hold on to personal grudges and flex their muscles only during the appraisal of their direct reports. While some of them use this as a tool to show superiority, others just do this to slow down the growth of their staff supposedly in line with Segun’s cost cutting strategy.

It was thus no surprise when some of these heads, having scored their staff so low, tried to reach out to the affected ones claiming they never expected the MD to instruct a sack of those with low scores. Now if you honestly know your team member does not deserve a B, why score him that low? If you knew Segun would erratically decide to sack, would you have honestly given the same scores? Would you consider the appraisal as fair and objective?

Most people in GTBank today grew under Tayo. There was instant reward for productivity and performance. Suddenly things changed, some employees have spent 5 years on a particular level and yet have high scores during their appraisals each year. The bank has resorted to quota system where a certain number of possible promotions (determined by the MD) is allotted to various groups within the bank. The Group Heads often claim their hands are tied, what about their mouths? They surely are following the Yoruba saying that once the mouth has tasted “dodo” (profit sharing), it certainly will reject “ododo” (the truth).

In the face of Segun’s high-handedness, the head of HR’s meekness and the absence of unions in the bank, where does an aggrieved GTBanker get able and due representation for fairness and justice assuming he or she is a victim of harassment, bullying and victimisation? The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees should ensure that all bankers join the union with emphasis placed on the need for support in the face of such unlawful dismissals. How can you sack without notice in writing? “At common law, it is implied that that either party may terminate the contract by giving reasonable notice to the other” Omehia (2011) “Dismissal in Nigeria Labour Law” pp 55.

The principal legislation on employment matters in Nigeria is the Labour Act which was enacted in 1971. The most common method of terminating a contract of employment is by the delivery of a written notice of termination of the contract on the opposite party. While the bank may claim that monetary compensation was made in lieu of notice, it came 8 days after the termination of contract. The bank failed to write to affected staff stating their severance package. Besides the narration that comes with SMS notifications for credits into account, no affected staff has a letter stating what s/he is entitled to after several years of diligence and commitment. On what grounds were those calculations made? Did it consider the length of service? Did it include benefits up to the last day of employment? Is it enough to advise them to resign voluntarily? Preposterous!

The Nigerian Court of Appeal has held that “in the absence of any definite agreement between an employer and his employee stipulating the period of notice for employee’s employment, the Court will proceed to consider what period of notice is reasonable”. Certainly not between 1-24 hours! There have been so many cases of similar dismissals arising from the MD’s spontaneous reaction to matters beyond the control of employees in question.

One of such was the unjust dismissal of a Deputy Manager, whose 10 year GTBank career was cut short few days to his wedding due to the inability of the bank’s customer to pay down on a loan that was presented to the bank’s Management Credit Committee (MCC). Be informed that the MCC is responsible for reviewing and approving all credits that are above the approval limit of the MD as determined by the Board. Its members include the MD who is the Chairman while the secretary is the head of the bank’s Credit Administration Unit, other members include all Divisional and Group Heads. This fellow was just a victim of power play or how else do you explain his dismissal from the bank for a credit that was approved by the MCC. The fact that his team was highly profitable was discounted for such erratic decisions that now characterise the Criticized Asset Committee (CAC) which is responsible for the assessment of the risk asset portfolio of the Bank. This and many cases have become the norm in GTBank. But who will come to their rescue? HR or NUBIFIE? A notification on the bank’s intranet that a staff’s customer has been listed on the CAC list sends fear down the spine of such staff. He simply doesn’t know if that will be his last day at work.

In all of these, let it be known that government is a reflection of the society. While most Nigerians blame and attack government assuming they are totally different people from the rest of us, so much injustice occur around us every day by people in positions of authority. Some of these people eventually find their ways into government. Will the situation change? It will be no surprise if GTBank does respond with a well written orange article to refute what has been stated here but there are over a 100 people willing to share their stories of subjective appraisals.

Rest in peace Tayo Aderinokun, we all miss you.

Junaid Korede Agbabiaka (JKA)

Source: http://www.cynthiaajibade.com/2013/06/gtb-would-you-rather-work-with-them.html#.UcBSy-fD5L4

Present and former GTB staff, whats your take?

justcynnie: This is Niger Delta top Militant Asari Dokunbo's mansion in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Na wa o, na only one person dey live inside all these houses in the compound? Who says militancy doesn't pay in Naija? I guess we all really need to work as 'hard' as he 'worked' to have something like this!

http://www.cynthiaajibade.com/2013/06/see-asari-dokubos-mansion-in-port.html#.UbxPiOe1GE4

Hia! Mummy Christine, you don reach here ni?

Need a good laugh today? (C'mon, we all do.) I couldn't help but crack a smile after hearing about a dad in Germany who called the cops for help because his babies wouldn't stop crying.

Yes, this really happened.

The poor dude was home alone caring for his twin 5-month-olds and a 2-year-old, and when he couldn't get his wife on the phone to help, and was unable to stop the kiddos from crying on his own -- he broke down and called the police out of pure desperation.

(OMG. Are you loving this story, or what?)

Wait, it gets better.

Instead of hanging up on him or getting all bent out of shape that he was wasting their time over crying babies, the cops actually listened to him, and even offered some tips for how to deal with the situation. (Aww!)

Um, this is seriously one of the funniest things I've ever heard! I wish I could've been a fly on the wall in that house when he made the call, because you know those babies must have been really wailing if he felt the need to get the police involved.

I left my husband alone with our son countless times when he was an infant, and luckily, I never got a panicked phone call from him, and to my knowledge, he never called anyone else for assistance either.

But I do recall one time when I was away on an overnight trip, he admitted putting our son to bed an hour or two earlier than normal. I never really said anything to him about it, but I'm assuming he'd had enough and figured ending the day early would save him a little bit of sanity.

Oh well, at least I didn't come home and find a police cruiser in my driveway.

Has your husband ever called you or anyone else for help with the baby?

Source: http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/148452/dad_gets_overwhelmed_by_his

Had a similar experience like Raiyo's. There was a day I had an appointment with my Optician in Aguda; immediately after the session, I left and went straight to the bus stop. As I was waiting for a cab, a team of policemen in a commercial bus stopped and asked me to explain what I was doing at the bus stop by past 11am in the morning, I told them I was just coming from a doctor's appointment. They insisted on searching the content of the cellophane bag with me (which contained some drugs and my glasses) and I obliged. They also said they had to check the content of my phone (despite showing them my ID) but I refused; by then people have starting gathering, including my Doctor, which was what actually gave me the courage to resist them carrying out the obnoxious act. If not, I sure say I for reach station or at least they'd drag me into their bus just for standing at the bus stop.
Tactless bunch of nitwits.

My office girlfriend later became my backbone and we ended up married.
Abeg, the office GF thing depends on the people involved and what you want out of it.

pro01: Atiku's Intels?

Yep! The guy (Duru) was the host of the show.

This was at the Intels end of the year party last year.

In other news: Sequel to the announcement of the debut of the Alexander Amosu-created ‘World’s Most Expensive Champagne', the champagne which was valued at a whopping 284 Million Naira surely caused a bit of a ruckus on the inter-webs and amongst the dissenters of the luxury champagne was certified millionaire, Peter Okoye of P-Square.

The Music star took to Twitter when he heard the news and tweeted "The most expensive champagne . £1.2million . (N250million) May dis champagne never CHOP MY MONEY IJN.…" http:///QhZxPoW0Qc

Shortly after, serial entrepreneur and luxury designer, Alexander Amosu responded to Peter by uploading the below snapshot of Peter’s tweets on his Instagram page with the caption: “Please send Peter a bottle”

Source: http://www.bellanaija.com/2013/06/05/please-send-peter-a-bottle-luxury-designer-alexander-amosu-responds-to-peter-okoyes-tweets/

^^lol

Here it goes.. So where are the big 'Boyz 'and 'Galz' in the house. There's a new one for you guys... its called the world's most expensive champagne courtesy of Naija's luxury designer, Alexander Amosu. Let me give you the run down. A bottle of this champagne sells for £1,200,000 which is about N290 Million...say what? hope am not seeing double.

The bottle is made from 18 carat solid white gold indicating that one is not expected to even discard the bottle after consumption. The Champagne is originally owned by luxury champagne brand, Gout De Diamiantes.

If you are a die hard lover of champagne, how about giving this a try for a start?


Source: http://cynthiaajibade..com/2013/06/alexander-amosu-creates-worlds-most.html#.Ua8QFtI-YfU

My friend let's be very objective here: If you had plans to secretly end the career of your opponent and someone squeals on you to the notice of the public, will you still go ahead with the plans to prove your informant right?
There was a reason why we were all given brains and we are expected to use it accordingly.

Small time now, people go begin say dem don dey nyash demself.

Guys, cut her some slack. Don't really know why people don't like cos I'm really down with her (though I can't marry a cosmetic person sha) as a friend.
If only she can just stop trying to keep up with the Jones and be herself.