Friday, November 27, 2020
Corporate Social Responsibility: THE STORM IS YET TO BE OVER
Corporate Social Responsibility: THE STORM IS YET TO BE OVER: PETITION AND DEBATE: BRITISH PARLIAMENT'S FORMAL NOTICE OF THE DESTRUCTIVE AFTERMATH OF CHALLENGE OF IMPUNITY BY THE YOUTH TITLED #EN...
BUSINESSES AFTER COVID: GET READY AND DETAILS
Hello,
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Iyke Ozemena Esq #corporateleaders
Corporate Attorney/Consultant IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO
www.corporateleadersboard.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/corporateboard amazon.com/iyke ozemena books
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THE STORM IS YET TO BE OVER
PETITION AND DEBATE:
BRITISH PARLIAMENT'S FORMAL NOTICE OF THE DESTRUCTIVE AFTERMATH OF CHALLENGE OF IMPUNITY BY THE YOUTH TITLED #ENDSARS PROTEST
https://youtu.be/lTmZFZXwrSY
Iyke Ozemena Esq #corporateleaders
Corporate Attorney/Consultant IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO
www.corporateleadersboard.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/corporateboard amazon.com/iyke ozemena books
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0075RXXLE COMPANY SECRETARIES HANDBOOK
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005783S6SDIRECTORS
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MKCESY MEETINGS: Dynamics and Legality
https://corporateleadersboard.blogspot.com/2017/
https://www.businesslist.com.ng/company/257480/idea-workshop
https://m.thenigerianvoice.com/author/IykeOzemen
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
NBA SNEEZED AND THE NATION CAUGHT COLD
NBA SNEEZED AND THE NATION CAUGHT COLD
We must be able to clarify the issues that trailed the NBA 2020
conference as objectively as possible for posteriority. Invitation and dis-invitation are part of the
annual conference. In 2007 Prof Maurice
Iwu was invited and dis-invited heavens did not fall; this year Gov. Nasir
El-rufai was invited but protests from
the rank and file of lawyers and non-lawyers stopped his invitation and the
heavens is about to fall with the creation of a parallel bar for the North
where Gov El-rufai comes from.
The NBA as an umbrella body must exist before anyone seeking relevance
underneath the corpus. Therefore you and your cause cannot be bigger or more important than the superstructure. Religion is a personal burden of members not
that of NBA or its cause(s).
We have seen recently how members’ sectarian leanings blurred their
sense of judgment and you could notice sentiments overwhelming common legal
principle like ‘ubi jus ibi remedian’ (where there is a right there is a
remedy). Did the governor ever said, ‘hey why did NBA take away my right?’ –(legal
or equitable). Instead sympathisers,
gladiators, impostors, interlopers, meddlers etc. began to ask for the
restoration of non-existent ‘right’. But the governor has personal legal
adviser besides the public law officer of the state, Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice.
In the debate Edafeyivwotu Famous Onoriode posted a comment in LAWYERS
IN NIGERIA platform buttressing his position by quoting late senate Presidend,
Dr Chuba Okadigbo who said: ‘’If you are emotionally attached to your tribe,
religion or political leaning to the point that truth and justice become
secondary considerations, your education is useless. Your exposure is useless. If you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments,
you are a liability to mankind’’. I
replied to this comment ‘Just on point’. There is nothing in the unfolding
debate but sentiments, no legal or equitable right arises.
Religuos sentiments and bigotry take away all forms of knowledge
acquired by humans over time once it is deployed. As tempers are rising, the relics of modern civilisation
are depleting. The epitaph on
Shakespeare’s tomb says: ‘’Good friend for Jesus sake forebeare. To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that speares these
stones. And cursed be he that move my
bones’’. This has caused havoc whether it is a CURSE to move the grave because
of government’s compulsory acquisition of land etc, family/relative’s decision
to give ‘befitting final burial’ or even if British public protest that
Shakespeare should be re-buried in a national cemetery as a public figure. No matter how plausible these arguments are
there is already a controversy (religion) waiting to overwhelm rational views
comments.
In spite of my various comments on several social media platforms, what
I take away is the call for Council for Legal Education to craft Bar Final
examinations questions to reflect the scenario facing the nation now. NBA is not a political party. There are six Law schools in Nigeria, but are they established to produce lawyers for
regional and religious feuds?
Iyke Ozemena Esq
Corporate Attorney/Consultant IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO
#corporateleaders
www.corporateleadersboard.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/corporateboard amazon.com/iyke ozemena books
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0075RXXLECOMPANY SECRETARIES HANDBOOK
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005783S6SDIRECTORS
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MKCESY MEETINGS: Dynamics and Legality
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Corporate Social Responsibility: NBA 2020 CONFERENCE WITHOUT GOV. EL-RUFAI
Corporate Social Responsibility: NBA 2020 CONFERENCE WITHOUT GOV. EL-RUFAI: NBA 2020 CONFERENCE WITHOUT GOV. EL-RUFAI I want to remind ourselves from the onset of this discourse that there is corporate responsibi...
NBA 2020 CONFERENCE WITHOUT GOV. EL-RUFAI
NBA 2020 CONFERENCE WITHOUT GOV. EL-RUFAI
I want to remind ourselves from the onset of this discourse that there
is corporate responsibility attached to public offices, sometimes symbolised by
taking of Oath of Office. It is partly for this reason that ordinary issue are
magnified or receive more attention than necessary. Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA) is one of the foremost organised civil society organization in the
country with clout and influence recognized by governments at all levels. The organization is known for its slogan ‘promoting
the rule of law’, which encompasses defending the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria (the grundnorm), the judges, fundamental human right of
individuals and hold governments accountable to the people who elected them, as
the custodian of the conscience of the nation.
The NBA NEC has the responsibility to organize meetings and conferences
whenever necessary. In so doing a
technical organising committee is usually assigned to arrange the logistics and
protocols on behalf of NEC before the main meeting and this year’s conference
is not an exception even though virtual, which is substantially different from
previous ones.
One of the main and invariable features of is nomination/invitation of
speakers from broad spectrum of the society.
This year’s speaker happens to include Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, governor
of Kaduna state. Intrinsically the organizing committee in their assessment,
thought his inclusion would be welcome like other speakers. But it didn’t because no sooner the name
appeared on the proposal list than objections and protests by commentators both
lawyers and non-lawyers on various social media platforms went viral, calling
for his dis-invitation.
Some of the reasons advanced by these critics include crisis in Kaduna
state where the governor is the chief executive with its citizens divided along
ethnic and sectarian lines; disobedience to valid court orders; failure to
observe the tenets of the rule of law, and most importantly as the CEO, his
failure to maintain security and welfare of citizens which are the primary purpose
of government.
The NBA President in his letter to the embattled governor explaining
reasons for dis-invitation, maintained that these allegations were not ‘judgments’
by the NBA and I so align with that opinion. For governor El-Rufai there is no
love lost. He has an Attorney-General
and Commissioner for Justice, therefore no one northerner is justified to cry
more than the bereaved.
Without the governor instructing the office, Hon. Aisha Dikko should
have asked whether the governor’s right was violated or denied by applying the
principle of ubi jus ibi remedium (where there is a right, there is a remedy). The answer from these commentators/critics,
both lawyers and non-lawyers would have been none. Even if he has any right of invitation, it is
revocable or limited like any other legal or equitable right.
It is also on record that, contrary to the principle of fairness,
protection/inclusion of minorities and reflection of equitable political
balance, his second term election deliberately ensured muslim-muslim ticket
removing existing inclusive option of muslim-christain or vice-versa. This
arrangement lost sense of belonging due to the Kaduna minorities.
Obviously many can see that there are sensitive issues at stake with victims of the recent crisis still licking
their wounds. Is this the proper time
for the governor to mount the podium on the platform of the NBA after he has been
Channels, Youtube, social media and other electronic and print media stating
his own case and defence? Who is holding the briefs of the victims and
minorities? In my candid opinion, with all these being fresh in our minds it would
amount to complacency and insensitivity to add Mall El-Rufai as 2020 conference
speaker, in a group known as vanguards of human right for citizens and
minorities. This is indefensible and odd for NBA to handle.This, indeed is a
difficult moment for the NBA, especially the outgoing and incoming leadership.
Members should employ sound reason in handling these issues without allowing
sentiments to cloud our decisions because what we have is today, we cannot dictate
what the next day can come up with.
Let me now end this discourse with Edmund Burke, an English political philosophy
who said: ‘All it takes for evil to triumph is for men of goodwill to remain
silent in the times of moral crisis’.
Iyke Ozemena Esq
Corporate Attorney/Consultant IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO
#corporateleaders
www.corporateleadersboard.blog.com
www.facebook.com/corporateboard amazon.com/iyke ozemena books
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0075RXXLE COMPANY SECRETARIES HANDBOOK http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005783S6SDIRECTORS
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MKCESY MEETINGS: Dynamics and Legality
Sunday, August 9, 2020
Corporate Social Responsibility: CHALLENGES OF SCHOOLS RE-OPENING
Corporate Social Responsibility: CHALLENGES OF SCHOOLS RE-OPENING: CHALLENGES OF SCHOOLS RE-OPENING The pandemic called Covid19 brought the entire world into a situation now referred to as the ‘new nor...
CHALLENGES OF SCHOOLS RE-OPENING
CHALLENGES OF SCHOOLS RE-OPENING
The pandemic called Covid19 brought the entire world into a situation
now referred to as the ‘new normal’. All over the world it became normal for
offices, industries, travels, schools to shut down. For the schools to re-open is not new,
however the closure took place at a time it was considered a weapon; one of the
prongs of global battle against Covid19.
Before arriving at this decision there were serious debates in various
countries.
The re-opening also generated similar debates and intellectual,
socio-economic and political arguments as to the rationale for doing so. It is no secret that while the arguments were
going on as part of the fundamental rights of freedom of speech, conscience,
contribution of citizens towards democracy, students and teachers were
attending religious worships, playing sports, participated in socio-economic
and political activities, including market places and other activities, none of
which showed serious observance of the proclaimed guidelines.
The central issued in all these debates and arguments is how many lives
would be saved by adopting one argument rather than the other. It is daisy to
decide one way or the other. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) being the arbiter in the
discourse has outlined various guidelines for prevention and control of the
spread of Covid19, but the observance and practices are still below set
standards even as schools are re-opening.
These guidelines are not rocket science.
They include basic hygiene precautions as washing hands with running
water. Use of face mask and maintaining social
distance of not less than three metres apart from each other, if you must be in
the crowd of religious services, schools, transport, market places and
political gatherings.
The critical issue now is whether the stakeholders in the educational
system are sufficiently sensitized to re-open schools, without raising a new wave
of the pandemic? One has to be specific
in answering such question because of the size of the national educational
sector – quite huge. Juxtapose this with the dichotomy between public and private schools. I am not persuaded to go into the
divisions among the different private schools and the negative impact they have
on decisions in this sector,
Since the policy decision has taken off already with induction training on the guidelines, what remains are the concerns so doing raises for parents,
students, teachers, para-educational staff and other stakeholders like
education NGOs. One of such concerns is
the increase in transport fare induced by the observance of social distancing
in various means of transport coupled with the imminent increase in fuel
costs. Also pertinent is the fact that
return to school with more passengers at the bus stop might induce shortage of
transport facilities.
Education is a social service as opposed to economic venture. Of course no one is blind to the fact that
most private schools/institutions operate as pure economic ventures. Therefore the need for corporate social
responsibility (CSR) on the part of state and federal governments with their
relevant ministries put on alert throughout the schools exit duration, because
it would not be unheard of, if the exercise induces a new wave of the pandemic.
God forbid!
Iyke Ozemena Esq
Corporate Attorney/Consultant IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO
#corporateleaders
www.corporateleadersboard.blog.com www.facebook.com/corporateboard amazon.com/iyke ozemena books http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0075RXXLE COMPANY SECRETARIES HANDBOOK
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005783S6S
DIRECTORShttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MKCESY MEETINGS: Dynamics and Legality
Saturday, August 1, 2020
NBA 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
NBA 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
In spite of alleged agitations the election broke the jinx of the position being the preserve of the
SANs since Clement Akpamgbo SAN of blessed memories stepped into the office in 1991.
Since 2018 election Lawyers have been locking horns over alleged electronic rigging that brought
Paul Usoro SAN to the presidency resulting into protracted antagonism that fueled the
determination of the soul of the bar to up turn a ‘convention’ that was gaining ground that once
SANs mount the podium to announce candidacy for NBA presidential election any other candidate
not a SAN withers away.
In the words of former President Obama ‘change has come to NBA.’ It was a difficult time with the
restrictions of the pandemic. Finally a rare show of courage brought the needed change; It calls for
diligence to sustain the new era;
All hands should be on the deck to realize this.
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Corporate Social Responsibility: CRISIS OF CSR IN NDDC
Corporate Social Responsibility: CRISIS OF CSR IN NDDC: CRISIS OF CSR IN NDDC The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act of 2000 came into existence with much row after the then Presid...
CRISIS OF CSR IN NDDC
CRISIS OF CSR IN NDDC
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act of 2000 came into
existence with much row after the then President Obasanjo declined assent as
the legislators vetoed him and passed the bill after 30 days, through s.58(2)
of the 1999 Constitution.
The purpose of the Act is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with
funding for replenishment of values devastated by the activities of oil
exploration in the entire area, and the development of their human and material
resources. It was borne out of years of
agitation by victims and moral guilt on the part of governments, after many
including the Ogoni nine had paid the supreme price. The bone of contention was the reckless
neglect of the goose that laid the golden eggs versus federal governments that
earned $32.6 billion (2018) annual revenue from oil and taxes, accounting for
about 65% of the nation’s GDP.
Interpreting the purposes/causes of NDDC has become controversial as
that depends on who you ask to interpret it. Recently the detailed
interpretation has become more important than how the huge sums budgeted
annually have gone to the realisation of the lofty ideals of development of the
area. The other arm of the controversy is how evenly has the commission
distributed the resources across the area?
To find answers to these numerous issues many different parameters have
been applied i.e size of annual budget against the percentage of
implementation; Contracts awarded and
awardees; what formula for distribution of palliatives and
disbursements? All these criteria and
more could only be appreciated through the framework of accountability and
transparency of operations.
The recent forensic audit called for by the presidency perhaps was
induced by the need for accountability and transparency. The Niger Delta Minister, Senator Godswill
Akpabio fired the first shot when he dropped the acting managing director, Joy
Nunieh. The allegations and counter
allegations are not for discussion here, but it
triggered off serious eye-brows and publicity on NDDC which has operated
several years without , audit of such dimension.
CSR is a management creation. It
is human idea of preserving the economy environment and the vulnerable. The total budget of the commission since its
inception in 2000 according to the presidency sources is ‘at least N15
trillion’. What have the leaders in the
commission achieved in those years with that sum? Are they commensurate with the fund endowed
with the institution? These questions
are not only on the lips of the President and his minister, NDDC Committee
Members but also on the lips of concerned Nigerians who voted for their leaders
to better their lots.
CSR is not perfect just as its human creator. But it is a device that has become
indispensable part of modern economy, wielding power and influence across the
globe. Accountability and transparency
are critical to its survival. Therefore
the role of civil society in order to sustain it and avoid crisis is among
other things, to ensure that disbursements go to avowed causes/purposes.
Iyke Ozemena Esq
Corporate Attorney/Consultant
IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO
#corporateleaders
www.corporateleadersboard.blog.com www.facebook.com/corporateboard amazon.com/iyke ozemena books http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0075RXXLE COMPANY SECRETARIES HANDBOOK http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005783S6S DIRECTORShttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MKCESY MEETINGS: Dynamics and Legality
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Corporate Social Responsibility: FEDERAL GOVT’S ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
Corporate Social Responsibility: FEDERAL GOVT’S ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY PLAN: FEDERAL GOVT’S ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY PLAN - Iyke Ozemena Esq Corporate Attorney/Consultant IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO #cor...
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Corporate Social Responsibility: FOUNDATION REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
Corporate Social Responsibility: FOUNDATION REGISTRATION PROCEDURES: FOUNDATION REGISTRATION PROCEDURES Registering a foundation starts with the decision of the owner as to what cause(s) to pursue: civil r...
FOUNDATION REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
FOUNDATION REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
Registering a foundation starts with the decision of the owner as to
what cause(s) to pursue: civil rights, health, poverty/hunger eradication,
education etc. This decision would be part of the description of the foundation
in its constitution.
When the Swedish Alfred Nobel formed his ‘’Nobel Peace Foundation’’ he
made that firm decision in his will that, never again should the world
encourage the development of destructive weapon like dynamite which he invented
at the detriment of the accidental death of his son in his laboratory.
So global peace is the cause for which Nobel Foundation was established.
We are also aware that a few Africans have qualified for this award, including
Nigeria’s Prof. Wole Soyinka.
Another critical decision after cause is whether to go for Incorporated
trustees by Guaranty or trustees selected/appointed by the owner. These should be in the constitution, produced
in several copies. Copies of resolutions
extracted from a meeting(s) where such resolutions were passed should be made
in several copies.
An example of cause(s) is that of Alhaji Aliko Dangote Foundation which
states: ‘’The Dangote Foundation is
dedicated to adding value to people’s lives across Africa by facilitating
health, education, and empowerment initiatives.’’ The use of this example is because the causes
are many and large, an indication that the resources of the foundation would be very large too. The size of the foundation in terms of cause(s) and resources
is determined by the size of the pocket of the owner. Although not necessarily in all cases.
Then the legal processes. You need to collect Incorporation Forms to be
completed and signed by the owner and trustees with passport photographs etc. When in doubt it is recommended that Legal
Practitioner should be consulted for these services which can be complex in
accordance with s.673 Part C, of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 as
amended.
Iyke Ozemena Esq
Corporate Attorney/Consultant
IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO
#corporateleaders
www.corporateleadersboard.blog.com www.facebook.com/corporateboard amazon.com/iyke ozemena books http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0075RXXLE COMPANY SECRETARIES HANDBOOK http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005783S6S DIRECTORShttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MKCESY MEETINGS: Dynamics and Legality
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Corporate Social Responsibility: FOUNDATION AS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR...
Corporate Social Responsibility: FOUNDATION AS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR...: FOUNDATION AS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) PLATFORM Corporate Social Responsibility is the generic for those activities enga...
Monday, June 22, 2020
Corporate Social Responsibility: TRIBUTE TO BURUNDI LATE PRESIDENT PIERRE NKURUNZIZ...
Corporate Social Responsibility: TRIBUTE TO BURUNDI LATE PRESIDENT PIERRE NKURUNZIZ...: TRIBUTE TO BURUNDI LATE PRESIDENT PIERRE NKURUNZIZA Late President Nkurunziza came to loom light when he led a rebel liberation group, ...
Saturday, June 13, 2020
Corporate Social Responsibility: THE TASK BEFORE THE THREE NIGERIAN PHARMACEUTICAL ...
Corporate Social Responsibility: THE TASK BEFORE THE THREE NIGERIAN PHARMACEUTICAL ...: THE TASK BEFORE THE THREE NIGERIAN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES As the world awaits the trial and result of the Covid 19 vaccine produced...
THE TASK BEFORE THE THREE NIGERIAN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES
THE TASK
BEFORE THE THREE NIGERIAN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES
As the
world awaits the trial and result of the
Covid 19 vaccine produced in China, it is pertinent to acknowledge that
similar efforts are going on around the
world laboratories. These steps are
taken at global level to fight Covid19 pandemic.
Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) is a public service. It is a critical exercise for a cause
and social positive change. Its aim is to mitigate and add value
continually. The need for CSR in
modern day commenced in the 50s,
especially by industries and corporations which impact society negatively
through the processes of manufacturing goods and services. Since then CSR has become an essential part
of management and corporate systems.
The
recent outbreak of Covid19 has
intensified the strategy of corporate world to use CSR to tackle the
menace in a global manner. The stampede
to be the first organization to produce Covid vaccine is not only about the
commercial value, it is also public service which CSR is all about.
Perhaps
our long dependence on Western medicine stopped third world countries like
Nigeria and other African nations from using their local herbs and medication
to fight Covid19 just as Western Pharmaceutical companies have been doing since
the outbreak. The only country that have
proved exceptional is Madagascar.
It was
Madagascar that woke up the consciousness of Nigerian Pharmaceutical and medical experts to think along Madagascar
way. It was Mao Tse Tung’s China that taught
the world that agrarian revolution precedes industrial revolution. This time Covid came through there apparently
to teach the world how to use herbs
around their environments to cure ailments, without waiting for Western medical
experts to lead.
The
accolade for the herb experiments going on now in Nigeria may have been given to
the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid, but in essence it should go
partially or wholly to Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and civil
society that campaigned for the trial and use of local herbs. It would have been a big shame if PTF did not
allow these agitators for local solutions to participate in this global
research and experiments.
Finally,
the task before the three companies is
to show integrity and leadership because there are more opportunities ahead.
Iyke
Ozemena Esq
Corporate
Attorney/Consultant #corporateleaders
IKECHUKWU
O. ODOEMELAM & CO, Legal Practitioners
corporateleadersboard.blogspot.com
www.amazon.com/Iyke-Ozemena/e/B0078UY9VQ?ref=dbs...
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Corporate Social Responsibility: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS’ CSR AGAINST COVID19
Corporate Social Responsibility: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS’ CSR AGAINST COVID19: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS’ CSR AGAINST COVID19 There is no doubt that Covid came with an agenda of tearing the world apart directly thro...
Corporate Social Responsibility: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS’ CSR AGAINST COVID19
Corporate Social Responsibility: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS’ CSR AGAINST COVID19: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS’ CSR AGAINST COVID19 There is no doubt that Covid came with an agenda of tearing the world apart directly thro...
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS’ CSR AGAINST COVID19
CIVIL
SOCIETY GROUPS’ CSR AGAINST COVID19
There
is no doubt that Covid came with an agenda of tearing the world apart directly
through the pandemic infection; and indirectly through ancillary induced
socio-political and economic maladies. But
we saw a world that was united and daring, battling on all fronts across the
globe to stop the spread, if not terminate the dragon.
The
first onslaught was the global solidarity demonstrated everywhere to deal with
the epidemic irrespective of differences/considerations. This was the spirit that took philanthropy,
as corporate social responsibility to the center stage of the global war. There seem to be strong signal from this
singular act of philanthropy that the world would spare nothing to stop the
deadly disease.
Apart
from the casualties so far, the battle
has exposed the deficiencies and vulnerability of erstwhile global
systems. Both national, states,
districts governments and civil societies
across the globe embraced corporate social responsibility as the best
strategy to wrestle down the pandemic.
It paid off, as the world is not only waging the war effectively, also
more discoveries continue to be made regarding future global pandemic such as
this, as well as global governance in times like this, as well as changing work
pattern/environment.
The
World Economic Forum just concluded a meeting on how Covid is affecting global
food security and societies’ response towards This critical meeting almost
coincided with America’s decision to leave
the World Health Organization (WHO).
Consequently the morale of the global battle lost USA’s financial muscle
at a time the world needed it most. However, it remains a paradox that at the
time America took the infamous decision, Covid induced protests were going on across the
nation.
Among
all the various reasons for acting the way it did, White house insisted that
China was not held responsible for recklessness that led them drag the world to
the pandemic. America maintained that China showed poor corporate social
responsibility in spite of global commitment towards climate change and
environment.
The
need for CSR has been acknowledged by governments and non-government
organizations; and individuals and groups are aggressively living up to it. Hence, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) is
leading among other civil society groups
in th CSR drive: Covid19 Pandemic Relief Fund for taking care of their
adversely affected members.
These
civil society organizations are either donating or actively organizing through
volunteers, rallying support for the distribution of donations and palliatives
across Nigeria: HEDA, Women
Advocacy Research and Documentation, Centre for Democracy and Development, Help
Centre, Civil Society Network Against Corruption, Journalists for Democratic
Rights, Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre etc.
To ensure
transparency, accountability and purposeful utilization of funds and resources
donated to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 the National Assembly
is reportedly scrutinizing the records. However, according to CovidTrack, a
website dedicated to the tracking of Covid-19 donations the summary of funds
has exceeded N700 m as at May 2020.
Iyke Ozemena Esq
#corporateleaders
Corporate Attorney/Consultant
corporateleadersboard.blogspot.com
www.amazon.com/Iyke-Ozemena/e/B0078UY9VQ?ref=dbs...
Monday, May 25, 2020
Corporate Social Responsibility: POST COVID19 ECONOMY WILL DEMAND DECISION, TRAININ...
Corporate Social Responsibility: POST COVID19 ECONOMY WILL DEMAND DECISION, TRAININ...: POST COVID19 ECONOMY WILL DEMAND DECISION, TRAINING, SOLUTIONS FOR RECOVERY Some of the rudimentary issues induced by Covid pande...
POST COVID19 ECONOMY WILL DEMAND DECISION, TRAINING, SOLUTIONS FOR RECOVERY
POST COVID19 ECONOMY WILL DEMAND
DECISION, TRAINING, SOLUTIONS FOR RECOVERY
Some of the rudimentary issues
induced by Covid pandemic have to be acknowledged in order to appreciate the
enormity of economic devastation and havoc that have taken place across the globe.
Perhaps the best starting point is
the experience in Wuhan, China where the first case was reported in December
2019. The panic alone caused a lot of
loss of man-hour; then followed by actual attack of thousands if not millions,
of workers and families resulting in hospitalization and death of some
percentage of victims. There is no doubt that Chinese budget for 2019/2020 was
over-stretched. The projects and all
other economic activities expected to take place in that period via budget
allocation were obviously short-changed by the sudden outbreak of Covid.
Beyond the financial cost of the
global war against the scourge, some of the victims were skilled and expert
corporate and private individuals. Their
demise and or incapacitation meant huge losses for the economy. Training and replacement of them would
certainly take a toll on the budget, but first, there must be a firm decision
that it is the way forward.
Partial, complete lock-down and curfew
were some of the measures applied in tackling the menace. During these periods no tourism, no economic
activities took place, except those essential preserving services. That meant loss of productive hours for as
long as it lasted. It also meant abandonment
of projects, breach of contracts, rusting of facilities and equipment etc. Needless to analyse these consequences to the
logical point of litigation, whether rational or irrational.
Every country as much as Nigeria
borrowed a leaf from Chinese experience.
Of course we are aware that the health care sector immediately became
the battle field; both the staff and facilities were over-stretched to breaking
point. The personnel became the next
wave of attack and spread of the deadly disease. We may not know the actual cost inflicted on
the global economy by covid.
However, what we do know is that the
entire global economy was forced to stagnate and consequently driven several
steps backwards. If we extrapolate to
every nation these basic economic issues raised by the first case of covid the
task of rebuilding the global economy would depend on massive training.
The pandemic was a sudden outbreak
and it would be foolhardy to say that global infrastructure and security architecture were absolutely dependable when the
disease broke out. Therefore a new security architecture would become imperative. The Paris/Copenhagen protocol on climate change
and their mitigation provisions remain as helpless as ever. How can these provisions be enforced? Were
they not meant to solve global problems staring us in the face? Where lies the burden of corporate social responsibility?
It is therefore apparent that
post-covid world would expect at national levels the enactment of new
legislation. For instance do you need
the declaration of state of emergency under s. 305 of the 1999 Constitution for
a complete or partial lock-down by the President or Governor? If that is the case, what then is the use of
executive orders?
Does the doctrine of force-majeure alone
compel governments and corporate
organizations to break the law or implement policies against fundamental human
right without any law authorizing that#?
Again the issue of social distancing
has produced industrial innovation called ‘working from home’. This innovation
seems to have been adopted to be the future of work place. Presently social distancing has proved
difficult to enforce in crowded cities and where you have grass-root people in markets and social gatherings as
well as religious meetings. It’s been
reported quite widely that some religious groups find it difficult to maintain
social distance during observance, believing that God would not allow the
infection. What a pity. Why then is the world searching for
vaccines?
With the World Health Organisation
(WHO) saying covid has come to stay, the inevitable conclusion are that there
must be at least one vaccine/medicine that cures covid. The world will remain indoors and online,
living skeletal jobs outside the home.
More and more people would hate work with a lot of people hating staying
at home. But most importantly they would hate covid the root of the
problems. Then the desire for entrepreneurship
would expand and grow after the battle against covid is over.
Iyke Ozemena Esq
Corporate Attorney/Consultant #corporateleaders
IKECHUKWU O.
ODOEMELAM & CO, Legal
Practitioners
corporateleadersboard.blogspot.com
www.amazon.com/Iyke-Ozemena/e/B0078UY9VQ?ref=dbs...
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