KADUNA ELECTRIC NEWSLETTER JANUARY 1ST EDITION

Reward & Recognition Already Encouraging Healthy Competition

By Halima Shuaibu

Barely a year after introduction of the Reward and Recognition Scheme, the initiative has started yielding positive results by way of raising the performance bar. This is according to the Team Lead, Industrial Relation & Employee Welfare, Oluwakemi Asanbe.

Mrs. Asanbe in a chat with KE Newsletter correspondent revealed that even though the scheme is relatively new, it is already impacting on performance of all staff members particularly among Service Centers and Regional Offices employees.

Speaking on the motive behind the introduction of the Scheme, Asanbe said it is to show appreciation, to recognize and reward outstanding performance.

This, according to her, has motivated top performers to do more and those that are not doing well to strive to excel.

Reacting to complaints by some people that the reward is not monetary, Asanbe said the awards are built on the premise that human beings crave recognition and appreciation even if it is not monetary. According to her, so far, the presentation of certificates and trophies has brought smiles to the faces of many and has greatly motivated them.

The categories of awards are: Shining Star, Service Center and Regional Office Awards.

Asanbe made reference to recent R&R event which took place in December tagged: the MD’s Award, where Supervisors and BDROs openly bragged about who was going to win the coveted trophy.

"Therefore, we are proud to say that it has already started breeding healthy competition.

"By implication, the performance threshold will be raised which ultimately means our performance will improve as a company".

On whether the process of selection is transparent, she said that for the regional offices and service centers it is figure based, meaning that they cannot be subjective or subject to the human factor.

As for the Shining Star, the staff Reporting line/Supervisor does the grading but aside from delivering on the job an employee would be graded by attitude to work, things like punctuality, willingness to work, initiative etc.

To Remain #1 On Safety Requires Deliberate Efforts

By Halima Shuaibu

Following the National Electricity Management Service Agency’s (NEMSA) pronouncement of Kaduna Electric occupying the number one position on Safety for 8 times in 2018, there has been a renewed call to maintain and surpass this feat in the new year.

The call is coming from the Team Lead, Health, Safety & Environment, Engr. Gimba Saleh who said the new year’s resolution is to exceed the record set in safety by the company.

Engr. Saleh who was speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent said the theme for this year’s resolution is: “Zero Accident”. According to him, this calls for a concerted effort from staff   to achieve it.

On its part as a department, Saleh hinted that strategies have been mapped out and execution will start soon.

“We have a target to conduct training once in every month to boost the awareness and understanding both at the head office and regional office.

Not only that, we also have sensitization programmes for customers/ third parties to educate them on how to avoid unsafe acts

The challenges, he noted are mainly getting people’s cooperation and the logistics needed.

“A lot of people are not eager to provide us with the necessary information that will enable us work on our weaknesses or put measures in place to forestall it.

On the issue of logistics, he lamented the inadequacy of vehicles in our Area/Regional offices required for proper monitoring to ensure compliance.


 Maintaining Your Skin this Harmattan

 

1. Drink lots of water

If you are the type that rarely drinks water, you need to fall in love with drinking water now. It is easy for you to get dehydrated during this period because of the intensity of the sun’s radiation. This will greatly affect your skin.
So, make water your best friend. Keep a bottle of water beside you at all times. Remember, drinking water is a way of moisturizing your skin from the inside out.

2. Moisturize daily

The harmattan weather comes with fogs and dry winds that easily sap off the moisture form your skin. This is no period to use moisturizers in little quantity. Apply them as many times as you can.
Also, make sure that you moisturize while your skin is still damp. This way, it is very easy for your skin to lock in moisture. Ensure that you use an oil-based moisturizer, it keeps moisture locked in for a longer period of time.

3. Get yourself natural oils

Natural oils are great antioxidants. Instead of using lotions, you could get natural oils like; palm kernel oil, coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, and so on. They are easily absorbed into the skin and serve as a protective barrier against the heat of the sun.
You could also mix these oils with your moisturizing lotions.
Essential oils at this period are also a good choice. You could get lavender oil, argan, rose, etc. They provide your skin with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

4. Use mild products

The harmattan does a good job of keeping your skin dry. You do not want to worsen things. Make sure that your soaps, cleanser, toner and all other beauty products do not have harsh ingredients that strip the skin off its moisture.
Stay away from beauty products that have astringents or alcohol — or even fragrances — in them. Avoid skin irritations at all cost. The effects of irritations are worse when your skin barely has enough nutrients to stay healthy.

5. Use a sunscreen

The importance of sunscreen during harmattan cannot be overemphasized. Due to ultra-violet radiation for the sun, you might experience sun burns, pigmentation and discolouration.
Sunscreen serves as a shield for your skin against the sun. So, though you might be under the sun, the sun rays do not affect or cause damage to your skin.
Ensure that your beauty products contain sunscreen especially one with an SPF that is above 30.

6. Wear protective clothing

This is not the time for mini skirts and backless tops. Make sure that your skin is well covered — as much as you can. Exposing your skin directly to the sun causes a lot of damage to your skin. So, bring out your long skirts and long sleeve tops.
Also ensure you wear hats or caps to keep your face away from the sun. In short, stay away from the sun as much as you can.

7. Pay extra attention to your hands, feet and lips

We pay little attention to our feet and hands when it comes to beauty and skincare. Usually, the focus is the face and neck.
However, during this period, you need to take special care of your hands, feet and lips. This is because they are the ones that get affected most.
To avoid dry hands or cracked feet, you need a hand and feet lotion. Also, get a lip gloss or balm for your lips to prevent them from drying out or breaking.

8. Do not take your bathe with hot water

This one might be hard to obey because harmattan mornings are usually cold. No matter how tempting it is, hot water is bad for your skin. The heat strips your skin off its natural oils. The harmattan weather is already making your skin dry and the little natural oil left, you do not want to dry up with hot water.
If taking your bath without heating your water isn’t an option, then make sure you use lukewarm water.

9. Take night baths

No matter how tired you are after the day, do not go to bed without taking your bath. The harmattan weather is extra dusty. You will have dust clinging to your skin and clothes. After a long day, make sure you shower. Also, remember that using a very mild soap is important during this period.

10. Do not forget to exfoliate.

If you do not exfoliate before, this is the right time to go get an exfoliator. The essence of exfoliating is to scrub away dead skin cells. Exfoliating also encourages the growth of new and healthy skin cells.
You are to exfoliate twice in a week. Ensure that you do not overdo it to avoid stripping your skin off its natural oils. Also, ensure that you use a gentle scrub. Do not use anything that will be harsh on your skin.

Culled from https://www.beaucrest.ng/skin-fresh-in-harmattan/