As part of efforts to sensitise Nigerians on the National Tobacco Control Act, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) have unveiled pictorial representations of provisions of the Act.

The provisions include “Ban on smoking in public places, Ban on Sale of cigarette to minors, and Ban on Sale of Cigarettes in single sticks”. It also pictures the sanctions for defaulters.

At a press briefing held in Abuja, ERA/FoEN said that the information materials were created to deepen awareness on the nine provisions of the NTC Act that Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole, announced would be enforced without any regulations

The provisions are:

• Prohibition of sale of tobacco products to and by anyone below 18;
• Ban on sale of cigarettes in single sticks. Cigarettes must be sold in packs of 20 sticks only;
• Smokeless tobacco shall be sold in a minimum of a pack of 30 grams;
• Ban of sale or offer for sale or distribution of tobacco or tobacco products through mail, internet or other online devices;
• Prohibition of interference of tobacco industry in public health and related issues;
• Prohibition of smoking in anywhere on the premises of a child care facility; educational facility; and health care facility, among others;
• Prohibition of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship of any kind;
• Compliance with specified standard for content as set out by Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

The ERA/FoEN deputy executive director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said that, as partners in progress with the Federal Ministry of Health, it identified the need to further deepen tobacco control messages through public awareness materials that answer the critical need for ordinary Nigerians to know, through visual images, the letters of the NTC Act.

“Ignorance of the law is no excuse. We believe that all Nigerians, including those who cannot read and write should be able to understand the law,” Oluwafemi said.

Representative of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Malau Toma, explained that the Ministry felt that the public awareness materials would reach all classes of Nigerians and that discussions were already on in concert with civil society groups to further produce the public awareness materials in the three major languages – Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.

Malau said that the partnership between the ministry and civil society on tobacco control had been very productive and that security agencies were already primed to enforce the ban on smoking in public places and other provisions of the NTC Act,

Earlier, Hilda Ochefu, the sub-regional coordinator of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), said that the unveiling of the public awareness messages was indicative of the fact that the tobacco control message in Nigeria had come to stay and would go to grassroots people who are critical to citizen enforcement of the Act.

In addition to the public awareness materials, ERA/FoEN also demanded for commencement of enforcement of the nine provisions of the NTC Act by relevant government agencies and states across the federation. It also asked for expedited action by members of the National Assembly to see the National Tobacco Control Regulations Bill passed so that enforcement of the other provisions of the NTC Act will commence without delay.

A new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa has shown a high improvement in health in the region.

WHO, at the study, launched during the 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee in Dakar, provided a snapshot of the state of health in the African region.

The report said life expectancy across Africa had improved significantly, but national health systems must be improved to ensure that services get to the people who need them most.

Emerging data shows a continued improvement, with the continent seeing the biggest jump in healthy life expectancy – time spent in full health – anywhere in the world.

The life expectancy jumped from 50.9 years in 2012, to 53.8 years in 2015, according to the report.

Deaths resulting from the 10 biggest health risks in Africa – such as lower respiratory infections, HIV and diarrhoeal diseases – dropped by half between 2000 and 2015, partly as a result of specialised health programmes.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, said: “I’m proud that Africans are now living longer and healthier lives.

“Nearly three years of extra health is a gift that makes us all proud. Of course, we hope that these gains will continue and the region will reach global standards”.

At the same time, the report warned that this achievement could only be sustained and expanded if health services are significantly improved.

It stated that the performance of health systems in the region – measured by access to services, quality of care, community demand for services and resilience to outbreaks – was low.

Chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer need to be tackled, with a person aged 30 to 70 in the region having a one in five chance of dying from a non-communicable disease.

Two critical age groups – adolescents and the elderly – are being under-served, with surveys indicating a complete lack of elder care in a third of African countries.

Moeti said: “Health services must keep up with the evolving health trends in the region. In the past we focused on specific diseases as these were causing a disproportionately high number of deaths.

“We have been highly successful at stopping these threats, and people’s health is now being challenged by a broad range of conditions. We need to develop a new and more holistic approach to health.”

This approach involves increasing spending on health, but also targeting funds in more effective ways, according to the report.

The report suggested that health systems that perform well invest up to 40 per cent of their budgets on their workforce, and a third on infrastructure.

WHO said, however, that the report, which made specific recommendations for each of the countries of the region, and identifies areas where nations are demonstrating good practice, was not a scorecard.

Algeria demonstrated good practice with its good coverage of available health service, Kenya has a good range of available essential services, and Mauritius has good access to services.

By improving performance, the countries have a better chance of meeting their commitment to achieve health-related targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals, the report stated.

By Prudence Arobani

Job Location: Abuja

Women Environmental Programme (WEP), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), working extensively on governance, environment, Climate Change, peace and security in Nigeria and African Region. Women Environmental Programme is recruiting for a Finance and Grants Manager to lead her Finance Team in Nigeria. The Finance and Grants Manager will be based in Abuja, Nigeria. The Finance and Grants Manager will report to the Executive Director and will be responsible for overall financial management of the organization and her field offices.  The candidate must have high-level finance, accounting and/or auditing experience on large budget funded programs.  The candidate must also be familiar with Nigeria and its government and must be willing to have strong demonstrated mastery of WEP policies and procedures.  Background check is required.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

Manage the accounting function. In particular:

• Ensure accounting transactions are recorded in a timely and accurate manner
• Ensure that the documentation, coding and approval of transactions complies with organisational policies and donor requirements
• Ensure in particular that transactions carried out by partner organisations are properly recorded by WEP and duly documented
• Organise periodic closings (quarterly at a minimum)
• Ensure account balances are analysed and reconciled and take or recommend action as needed
• Ensure the safety of accounting data and the proper archiving of accounting documents

Coordinate Budget-related processes

• Coordinate the preparation of project budgets ensuring they properly fund proposed activities and the required management and support activities
• Assist in the negotiation of project budget with donors
• Coordinate the preparation of WEP’s annual budget and of the necessary updates
• Produce regular budget implementation report and recommend corrective action

Manage payroll

• Coordinate the timely preparation of payroll
• Ensure that time reports are prepared in accordance with WEP’s policy
• Ensure that statutory deductions and contributions are made and paid in a timely manner

Oversee Treasury

• Ensure the organisation has sufficient cash balances to operate as per plan
• Request cash from donors as per grant agreement
• Manage banking to ensure that cash assets are safeguarded while receiving cost-effective services

Coordinate Financial reporting and financial audits

• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to Management, the Board, donors and other stakeholders (e.g. tax authorities)
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to donors
• Coordinate with statutory and other auditors

Ensure accounting policies and systems are sound, relevant and up to date

• Develop or improve accounting policies and procedures
• Continuously analyse financial risks and take or recommend actions as needed
• Contribute to the development or improvement of organisational, programme or administrative policies as far as they relate to financial management
• Ensure the financial system responds to the needs of the organisation and is well-maintained

Carry out other tasks related to financial management

• Review proposed donor contracts to minimise financial and compliance risks
• Provide support and training as necessary to ensure that project managers and other stakeholders understand their role and duties related to financial management
• Coordinate insurance arrangements for the organisation
• Coordinate regular asset counts and reconcile asset register with accounting records
• Take all actions necessary to minimise financial risks to the organisation
• Experience with managing successful grants programs for local organizations and governments
• Knowledge of donor planning and reporting systems
• Must be a team player and ready to travel from time to time

QUALIFICATIONS

Preferred Candidate: Female

1. A holder of Bachelors Degree in Accounting and Masters Degree in Accounting and Finance
2. A Chartered Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

• Have a minimum of 10 years’ experience post qualification as a Chartered Accountant. At least 5 years in a

Non – Governmental Organisation, private Sector in accounting and or experience with International accounting systems will be an added advantage

1. Experienced in accounting software like Quick Books, Peachtree etc.
2. A sufficiently fast learner to be able to do a good job

Interested and qualified candidates who have met all the above criteria should send their detailed Curriculum Vitae and suitability statement to recruitment@wepnigeria.net not later than two weeks from the date of this publication (latest by 15^th September 2018). No hard copy of the application will be received. Selected applicants will undergo written and oral test on a date selected by the interview Committee. The qualified candidate should be ready to resume as soon as possible.

Women Environmental Programme (WEP) is an equal opportunity employer