FG promises not to sack NNPC workers

The Federal Government has promised not to cut down the number of employees of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

This is coming as labour unions have threatened to storm Imo State today (Friday) for a mass action if the state government fails to reinstate the workers that it recently sacked.

The Federal Government noted that instead of reducing the number of workers at the NNPC, it would expand the operations of the national oil firm in order to make it globally competitive.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed this to leaders of labour union in the oil and gas sector during a meeting with them in Abuja on Wednesday evening.

Speaking at a joint press conference organised by the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the National President, NUPENG, and Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Achese Igwe, said some concessions were reached at the meeting.

He said participants at the meeting discussed the imminent sacking in the NNPC and the oil sector, ongoing concessions and various reforms in the industry.

Igwe said, “We are going to vehemently resist any attempt to sack workers. We have advised service companies and multinational firms that are in the act of outsourcing and contracting that this will portend the loss of jobs for Nigerians. We say no to them because that is not what this government is all about.

“The government today talks about job creation and not job losses. With the current economic challenge we are having in our country, we need not to lose jobs that are already created.”

Asked to state specifically if the unions were assured by the minister that workers would not be sacked at the NNPC, Igwe said, “One of the concrete assurances he has given is that there will be no job losses. He has said there will be job security and he is thinking of expanding the business of the NNPC to be a profit organisation, and to also be a world-class oil and gas company like Petrobras, Petronas and the rest of them.

“If you ask me, what is the staff strength of the NNPC and what is the staff strength of Petrobras, Petronas and the rest of them? We are just an inch of the staff strength of these organisations. Most of them have a staff strength of 34,000 personnel, and what is the staff strength of the NNPC? The entire staff strength of the NNPC today is not up to 5,000 as the case maybe, and you are talking about these organisations that came after you or almost at the same time with you.

“We have said clearly and I am speaking as the NUPENGASSAN chairman today, that any attempt to cause job losses in the oil and gas sector, especially at the NNPC, we will definitely react. We will resist it accordingly and we will do it within the framework of what labour unions are known for.”

On plans to invade Imo State, Igwe said an ultimatum, which elapses today (Friday) had been given to the state government to reinstate the sacked workers, adding that failure to comply would result in mass action by labour unions.

APC barred from Kogi East/Central Senatorial reruns

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the exclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party from the rerun election in to the Senate for Kogi East/Central Senatorial districts, Okene/Ogorimagogo Federal Constituency and Ofu/Ankpa1 State constituencies respectively.

Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) Mallam Halilu Pai who made the disclosure yesterday said INEC as a law abiding commission was only obeying the directives of the appeal court where the petitions were finally dispensed, The Guardian reported.

He however pointed out that if there is any contrary judgment and directive from the court before the 20th of February, 2016 date for the rerun , the commission would comply.

According to a document made available during its stakeholders meeting yesterday the REC said, “Election into Kogi Central/East senatorial districts will feature the same political parties and candidates excluding APC and its candidates.
Okene/Ogorimagongo, Federal constituency, Ofu and Ankpa1 State constituencies will feature the same parties and candidates excluding APC and its candidates.

“For the other reruns in Dekina1, Okura and Idah Star constituencies all political parties that participated in the 2015 general elections will participate.”

Pai in response to an observation that the concerned candidates were in court over the issue of their exclusion and whether it would have been wise for the umpire to wait for that judgment, said they will take into cognizance any new issue from court.

According to him 28 petitions were filed after the general elections adding that they received orders that rerun should be conducted.

Why Nigerians Seek Medical Treatment Abroad

The popularity of Medical treatment abroad is expanding globally mainly due to its greater capacity to provide safe, high quality treatments to those who cannot receive comparable care in their country of origin; many turning to India and Israel.

Medical Tourism once broadly focused on provision of health care and emergency treatment provided by higher-income countries to less developed nations, has since expanded to include patients from many parts of the world to countries with the full range of health care system infrastructure and modernity. Medical Tourism (MT) has become particularly popular in the United States, mainly due to high living costs and costly health services and care. In the United States, a staggering 50 million people are uninsured and over twice as many are uninsured for dental care. Nevertheless, insurance may not cover specific treatments and many are unable to meet the financial requirements specified for medical procedures that they require.

Therefore, Americans have many reasons for seeking treatment elsewhere - since it has also become easier over time to receive the treatment they need that is on average 30% cheaper than in the United States. They can also receive the quality and safety that equals national standards for the very same procedure. Furthermore, patients reap the benefits of getting medical care and treatment while they travel and vacation.

In the modern MT industry, international patients can be rest-assured that in nearly all countries, patients receive quality treatment in the same hospitals that also serve the local population. Services are provided by licensed professionals who maintain international accreditations that adherence to strict medical protocols.

MT is forecasted to expand even further, becoming an increasingly global phenomenon. Along with its growth, affordable and highly sophisticated diagnostic tools that guide the development of innovative treatments. Renowned specialists work with international patients; contributing to the growth of the industry and its success through expertise in specific branches of medicine. Today, an astounding 7 million people have travelled the globe for medical services for procedures like heart transplants to cosmetic surgery and dental care.

MT allows those seeking care to obtain treatment for conditions requiring procedures and processes that would be otherwise unobtainable in their home country; specifically in countries with a medical infrastructure, that lacks important resources for health care delivery.

The MT industry strengthens local economies and provides important employment opportunities of countries that offer medical treatment to foreign patients. Patients worldwide are drawn to new and efficient treatments that have become more cost-effective in places such as Israel and India – this includes complex surgical procedures. Other popular destinations for Medical treatment abroad include Thailand, Singapore, and Mexico.

India often attracts patients that require orthopedic and cardiac surgeries, as well as IVF and oncological treatment. Complications have arisen in incidents of malpractice, lack of comprehensive follow-up care and other difficulties that result in patients seeking services elsewhere. India also has a long rainy season (monsoon) that makes the country difficult to navigate due to weather conditions from May to September – which may affect a patient’s decision to travel to India, especially if the patient is living with a chronic disease.

India is emerging, creating new departments within government-managed facilities to serve medical tourists and working to improve the coordination of healthcare services.  In addition, India aims to promote traditional and alternative medical care through the incorporation of yoga and ancient medicine - Ayurveda.

Israel’s rising popularity as a destination for MT originates from its dynamic tourist attractions, high quality and safe medical procedures and leading doctors, all of which continue to evolve, advancing its successful medical services. In 2014, the Medical Tourism Index (MTI) ranked Israel highly as third in a list of top destinations for medical treatment around the world. Israel uses the most modern techniques for medical practice through the incorporation of advanced screening techniques, laboratory analysis, and individualized treatment. In addition, Israel’s industry, pioneering in the production and development of bio-medical devices, such as the ReWalk exoskeleton.

Bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is an easily accessible destination to access from many countries of the world.  The beaches of Israel are among the finest in the world and enjoyed by patients who stay for post-operative care (following orthopedic surgeries, for example) who simultaneously can enjoy their vacationing period and save money on their medical care.

Israel has successfully established its medical presence on a global scale, including plans for developing Israeli clinics within Russia, as Israel is a popular destination for many Russian patients, as well as in Cyprus; where medical facilities in the countries seek to employ Israeli doctors. Many esthetic and reconstructive surgical techniques of Israeli doctors are implemented within hospitals across the globe.

As mentioned, medical successes in Israel, such as success rates for IVF (In-vitro fertilization) are significantly higher (25-30%) than global averages for procedures of this type and performed at a fraction of the cost than most other countries. Cardiac surgery is another main branch of medicine that attracts tourists to receive care in Israel with many successful bypass surgeries performed. In addition, a large proportion of Israel’s medical tourists come for various cancer treatments.

Furthermore, Israel is known as a country that is focused on health and wellness. The Dead Sea, a natural water source is rich with unique mineral salts, known to have miraculous healing properties to treat a multitude of conditions that range from eczema to rheumatoid arthritis.

Globally, Medical treatment abroad continues to flourish, with greater accessibility to innovative treatments and medical technologies, many foreign patients can take full advantage of what the industry has to offer. Before traveling for a medical procedure, all prospective patients should consider and remain aware of all possible complications regarding treatment abroad. Patients should ensure that the hospital of choice for treatment is fully accredited, equipped, as well as a trusted and registered medical tourism provider for safe and effective medical practice.

Playboy's first non-nude issue debuts its cover

The first non-nude Playboy magazine cover, and a few more inside pics, were released on social media Thursday.The first non-nude Playboy magazine cover, and a few more inside pics, were released on social media Thursday.

The March 2016 issue debuts the men’s magazine’s much talked about transition from women in their birthday suits to women in their swimsuits (or the clothing equivalent).

The first cover gal is a 20 year-old model named Sarah McDaniel and the issue’s theme is, not surprisingly -- social media. 

Ernest Hemingway’s great-grand daughter Dree Anderson also makes an appearance in the magazine as its first non-nude centerfold, wearing a revealing white button down and skivvies. (Her mother Mariel appeared in the magazine in 1982.)


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Playboy model Katie May dead at 34

A Playboy model dubbed the “Queen of Snapchat” has died after suffering a catastrophic stroke, TMZ is reporting. She was 34.

Katie May, who was also a single mother and a marketing partner for a sports betting website, had the stroke Monday in Los Angeles, her family told the gossip website.

The blonde bombshell had struggled with neck pain recently and tried to get treatment before a blockage in May’s carotid artery caused the massive stroke, according to her family. The report didn’t list where she was receiving medical care.

Posts circulating on social media Thursday claimed the mid-30s model has died. Representatives for her listed modelling agency, management team and the sports betting site didn’t immediately respond to requests for her health status Thursday night.

Playboy magazine called May the Queen of Snapchat in a feature this past fall called “Social Media Stars.” She also posed for Sports Illustrated magazine in November. Her sexy Instagram feed has drawn over 1.9 million followers.

May grew up in a small town outside Pittsburgh, where her parents worked as teachers and she was a cheerleader for her high school’s football team, she told Huffington Post in an interview last month. May said she later worked as a cheerleader at both the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl.

Yet she didn’t start modelling until she decided to do a photo-shoot while jogging home from taking her daughter to school, she said. Her marketing work for the sports betting site and app, JetBet, stems from her other earlier job in public relations, she told Huffington Post.

“I'm showing people you can be intelligent and a model,” she said. “You can do more than sell protein and tea on social media and you don't have to be a movie star or musician to have influence.”

Her last Instagram post, from Monday, didn't suggest she had medical problems. The photo showed her from behind in a skimpy bikini.

"Hope everyone is having a great Monday!" the caption read. "It's very windy here today in LA."


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