From Sokoto To Edo To Abuja: Sowore Demands Justice For Victims Of Extrajudicial Killings Across Nigeria

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March 31, 2025
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The call for justice comes amid growing concerns over the rising cases of mob justice, ethnic violence, and unlawful killings by security forces in the country. ArticlesRead More

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Death of Traditional Workplace: What the Future Holds for Organisations

By Anthony Abodunrin Oni

The workplace is shifting seismically, and the traditional office model is rapidly becoming outdated. Digital transformation, remote work, and AI-driven automation have reshaped how organizations function, recruit, and engage with workers. It’s not a trend that’s going away; it’s a redefinition of what work is all about.

For decades, the traditional workplace was built on rigid frameworks, centralized systems, and a rigid nine-to-five day. Office buildings were seen as the epicenter of productivity, collaboration, and corporate culture. All that has changed with the rapid pace of technology, along with changing employees’ expectations. The idea that work must be confined to a physical space is quickly becoming a relic of the past.

The technological revolution ushered in by the digital age has experienced unprecedented technology breakthroughs, where one can do work anywhere. Cloud technology, AI, and automation have simplified the automation of tasks, reducing the requirement for offices. Businesses are now applying digital communication tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom to ensure that communication is seamless, regardless of location. The transformation has boosted efficiency in operations and saved businesses a lot of money, allowing them to channel funds into innovation and employee well-being.

The pandemic of COVID-19 accelerated the use of remote work, and it was demonstrated that productivity is location-independent. The majority of companies that had not adopted flexible work patterns were forced to do so overnight. Hybrid work patterns are becoming the new norm today, where employees can switch between office and remote work seamlessly. It has been observed through research that hybrid workplaces can enhance productivity, reduce stress, and improve job satisfaction.

The workforce of today, particularly millennials and Gen Z, prioritize flexibility, autonomy, and work-life balance over hierarchies in the corporation. The older generation liked job security and tenures in a single company, but employees nowadays seek meaningful work, career advancement, and the ability to work according to their own schedule. Organizations that ignore these evolving expectations will lose their best people to more progressive competitors.

Maintaining large office spaces is costly as well. Most companies are redirecting investment to technology, employee health, and sustainability initiatives rather than renting expensive office space. The exodus from traditional office space is not just an economic decision but a strategic one. Companies that invest in newer digital technologies and prioritize employee experience are likely to build more engagement and innovation.

Organizations will further take on a decentralized model where employees work from diverse locations around the world. The shift will drive the need for more advanced digital collaboration tools, cyber security measures, and inclusive policies that address varying types of working styles. Organizations will also have to rethink their recruitment plans as they are now not constrained by geography while recruiting the best talents.

Artificial intelligence is not replacing workers but transforming them. Repetitive work will be automated, and employees will be provided with the chance to focus on high-value, strategic, and innovative work. AI-powered software such as chatbots, predictive analytics, and machine learning software is enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency across all sectors. This also demands continuous learning and upskilling programs so that employees remain competitive in the evolving job market.

The future workplace will focus on employee well-being, engagement, and inclusion. Organizations will have tailored work experiences, including flexible work schedules, mental health services, and dynamic team structures. Forward-thinking organizations understand that a healthy and engaged workforce translates into higher productivity and retention. Organizations with wellness programs, mental health programs, and career development initiatives will attract and retain the best talent.

The old hierarchical corporate model is being overridden by agile, purpose-driven leadership. Organizations will shift to flatter, more collaborative forms with leadership defined by influence, not power. Decision-making will be more distributed, stimulating innovation and cross-functional working. Leaders must become flexible, emotionally intelligent, and digitally competent to survive in the future workplace complexities.

While old-fashioned offices are fading away, they will not be gone for good. Rather, they will be reinvented as co-working spaces that are designed for networking, team building, and idea creation rather than everyday showup. Office spaces will be reconfigured to create more energetic and creative settings that will foster innovation and connection building. Companies that effectively merge physical and virtual workplaces will become market leaders in the new world of business.

Companies that hold on to old workplace models risk being left behind. The future is for companies that are willing to digitalize, put people first, and become adaptable. The old workplace is dying, but rising from the ashes is a more flexible, diverse, and innovative workspace. The question for leaders today is not if but when they will be able to adapt to this irreversible transition. Individuals who take the time to reinvent their workplaces today are the ones that will succeed in the years ahead.

*Anthony Abodunrin Oni is an Organizational Development Consultant and E-Learning Specialist with expertise in business strategy, human resources, and digital transformation. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Human Resources Management, he has consulted for top organizations across various sectors, driving efficiency and growth.

By Anthony Abodunrin Oni The workplace is shifting seismically, and the traditional office model is rapidly becoming outdated. Digital transformation, remote work, and AI-driven automation have reshaped how organizations function,

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INEC: Petition for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Recall Failed Constitutional Requirements

•Says no further action will be taken, writes Akpabio

•God has shamed anti-democratic forces after me, declares Kogi senator, hails electoral body

•Inaugurates free maternity/child care centre in Okenne, empowers more constituents

•Proponents of exercise thank commission for recognising 208,132 signatures

Adedayo Akinwale and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Despite the frenzy that followed the proposed recall of the senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over the last few days, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, declared that the petition for the exercise did not meet key constitutional requirements.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement, said the commission arrived at the conclusion after it considered and approved the report of its physical count of the signatures/thumbprints forwarded with the petition in line with Clause 2(b) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall, 2024, at its meeting, yesterday.

INEC added that no further action will be taken on the recall of the senator.

Reacting to the news, Akpoti-Uduaghan said God had put to shame anti-democratic forces plotting her recall from the senate.

The senator, who had commenced the construction of a free maternity centre and childcare centre for her constituents, also empowered them by providing tools and training to those who had earlier been trained in welding and carpentry.

But those who had pushed for her recall thanked INEC for, at least, validating 208,132 (43.86 per cent) signatures in the petition submitted for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall.

INEC had assured Nigerians that it would handle the matter with fairness in line with the provisions of the law and the commission’s regulations and guidelines.

Olumekun said, “First, we ensured that the petitioners complied with the requirements for the submission of the petition.

“Secondly, we notified the member sought to be recalled in writing, copied the presiding officer of the Senate and simultaneously published the notice on our website.

“Thirdly, we informed Nigerians that the next step would be to carefully ascertain the number of signatures/thumbprints to ensure that the petition complies with the requirement of the law. This exercise has now been completed.”

Olumekun emphasised that a petition for the recall of a senator must comply with the provisions of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which requires the signatures of more than half of the registered voters in the constituency.

According to him, “The total number of registered voters in the Kogi Central Senatorial District is 474,554. More than one-half of this figure (i.e. 50%+1) is 237, 277+1 which is at least 237, 278 voters.

“Across the 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas and five local government areas that make up the senatorial district, the commission ascertained 208,132 signatures/thumbprints from the submission made by the petitioners.

“This translates to 43.86 per cent of the registered voters, which falls short of the constitutional requirement by 29,146 signatories.

“Consequently, the petition has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the constitution. Therefore, no further action shall be taken on the recall of the senator.”

Olumekun stressed that in line with the provisions of Clause 2(d) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, the commission had issued a public notice to that effect, which was also copied to the presiding officer of the senate.

He stated that the public notice, along with a summary of the review of the signatures/thumbprints of the petitioners, which were disaggregated by local government areas, were available on its website and social media platforms for public information.

INEC also wrote to the senate president, Godswill Akpabio, to officially inform him that it had rejected a petition seeking to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan.

INEC, in the letter, explained that the petition failed to meet the constitutional requirements outlined in Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution.

It said the petition, which was submitted on March 24, 2025, did not satisfy the legal threshold necessary for initiating a recall process.

“The petition has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” it said.

INEC added that the petition was signed by 208,132 out of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central, representing 43.86 per cent of the constituency’s electorate.

“This falls short of the constitutional requirement, which mandates that at least 50% + 1 of registered voters in the constituency must support a recall process,” it said, adding, “No further action shall be taken on the petition.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan: God Has Put to Shame Anti-democratic Forces Plotting My Recall

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan reacted to the outcome of her recall process, saying God has put to shame anti-democratic forces behind the move.

Commending the electoral body for upholding justice, Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a statement, also hailed the commission for rejecting a fake process by sponsored groups and individuals to recall her from the senate.

She stated, “God has put to shame anti-democratic forces plotting my recall from the senate, including one of the most wanted persons by the EFCC, former governor Yahaya Bello.

“The voice of the people is the voice of God. Nobody, be it a former Governor Yahaya Bello or Senate President Godswill Akpabio and their associates can toy with the mandate freely given by the resolute people of Kogi Central without being put to shame.

“All along, I did not exercise any fear because I have a God that can never fail and I have people on my side. The decision to reject the recall process is a justice against injustice. INEC has proven to be truly independent and the history will never forget this justice.

“I commend the umpire for shaming the shameless agents of darkness and setting the record straight according to the laws of our land.

“To God be the glory, we have defeated them again. This development is another record-breaking against those who prefer coming from the back yard, the manipulators, election riggers, the violent merchants and their allies in Kogi Central and beyond.

“Please, bear it in mind that your days are numbered in politics because the new era has come when people will no longer reckon or identify with evil politicians whose trade mark is not more than violence, rigging and corruption.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan, yesterday, commenced the construction of a free maternity centre and child care centre for her constituents.

The centre, according to a statement by her media aide, Arogbonlo Israel, was scheduled for completion in four months.

It is expected to provide free, quality and efficient maternity services to women in the senatorial district.

The development came a few days after a pregnant woman reportedly died in Lagos because her husband could not afford N500,000 to procure health care services for her at a private hospital.

The senator, according to the statement, expressed her excitement about the project, stating that she understood the challenges of childbirth, having given birth to four children herself.

In addition to the maternity centre, the Kogi lawmaker also empowered her constituents by providing tools to those who had earlier been trained in welding and carpentry.

The initiative, the statement explained, aimed to enable them to start their own workshops and become financially independent.

Recall: Kogi Central Constituents Thank INEC for Recognising 208,132 Signatures

Constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District thanked INEC for validating 208,132 (43.86 per cent) signatures in the petition submitted for the recall of the suspended lawmaker representing the district in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The constituents, who were registered voters of Kogi Central, stated that, though they had mobilised more than the 50 per cent plus one threshold of registered voters and submitted their petition with full documentation, the validation of 43.86 per cent by the commission still confirmed that Kogi Central constituents had abandoned the embattled senator.

“Apparently, INEC cancelled not less than 35,000 signatures at the administrative stage,” the constituents said, while reacting to a statement on the recall process issued by the electoral umpire.

In a statement by one Salihu Habib, on behalf of the petitioners, the constituents insisted that there was no going back on their resolve to bring the Kogi Senator back home, even though INEC had said no further action shall be taken on the recall of the senator.

“We will liaise with INEC within the full ambits of the constitution and regulations to demand for transparency in the handling of our petition. We have utmost confidence in the commission not to subject the recall process to ambiguity or administrative opacity,” the constituents said.

They expressed their gratitude to INEC for proving naysayers, who queried the authenticity of their figures, wrong.

They said, “We thank INEC for making it clear that the bulk of the people of Kogi Central are behind us and that we did not import a crowd like a desperate, embattled lawmaker.”

THISDAY wishes to point out that INEC never recognised the signatures of 208,132 members, who purportedly signed the recall petition. It is, therefore, a false claim on the part of Salihu Habib to state that INEC had recognised the signatures.

INEC’s statement said the petition failed a key constitutional requirement of more than one-half of registered voters (i.e. 50%+1 ) signing the recall petition. How does this translate to recognising the 208,132 signatures that purportedly signed the recall petition? The electoral commission had not even carried out verification of the signatures yet.

•Says no further action will be taken, writes Akpabio •God has shamed anti-democratic forces after me, declares Kogi senator, hails electoral body •Inaugurates free maternity/child care centre in Okenne, empowers