The director-general of the National Productivity Centre (NPC), Dr Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, has stressed the critical role of a robust reward system in boosting worker productivity in Nigeria.
Speaking during a presentation with labour reporters on the centre’s achievements over the past four months in Abuja, Dan’Agundi outlined several initiatives aimed at improving staff welfare and increasing productivity across sectors.
The DG noted that workers need 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.
Looking ahead, the DG outlined 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.
According to him, in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape, increased productivity is the lifeblood of any economy.
He stated that Nigeria must make concerted efforts to optimise it’s resources, enhance competitiveness, and achieve collective prosperity.
He said, “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.”
