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How Businesses Can Focus on Employees to Avoid The Great Resignation

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The Great Resignation

By Hyther Nizam

Across the globe, The Great Resignation has become a source of concern among businesses. It refers to the unprecedented number of workers quitting their jobs in the Covid-19 and post-pandemic eras.

In Nigeria, businesses have recently seen their fair share of voluntary employee resignations. Most notable was the “big quit,” an exodus of top tech talents from Nigerian Banks. Nigerian millennials and Gen Zers, who comprise a large percentage of job-hoppers, also account for the majority of the young workforce population in the country. Now, they are re-evaluating their working experiences after the hard hit of the pandemic. The Deloitte Global 2022 Gen Z and Millennial Survey reveals that the youngest generations in the workplace are now seeking balance, prioritising happiness, and expressing higher expectations for compensation.

With an unemployment rate of just over 33%, you may think few employed Nigerians can really afford to leave their jobs. But the truth is, even here, employers aren’t immune to The Great Resignation. Thanks to the rise of remote work, Nigerian workers (especially those with in-demand skills) can truly compete in the global job market, and not limit themselves to regional roles. They have faced many of the same pressures as other workers around the world as a result of the pandemic, meaning they have the same temptations to start their own businesses or enter the freelance market.

What can businesses do to avoid losing employees to the Great Resignation? While the answer may vary depending on industry and market, the one universally key solution is to earn employee support.

The importance of employee loyalty

Before digging into how organisations can earn employee support, it’s important to remember why it matters. Losing an employee can take a big toll on your company (with the effect magnified for smaller organisations). On average, it takes 41 days to fill a position. That’s 41 days other people in the business have to do all of a former employee’s duties in addition to their own.

Further, replacing an employee can be incredibly expensive. According to the analytics and advisory company, Gallup, it can cost one-half to two times the employee’s annual salary to replace them. Whichever way you cut it, you could give that employee a substantial salary increase and it would still be more financially viable than replacing them.

It’s also worth pointing out that there’s a positive correlation between good employee experiences and good customer experiences. That makes sense—a single positive interaction with an employee can dramatically alter how a customer perceives and experiences the company. The chances of a positive interaction taking place are much slimmer in companies that have high levels of employee turnover and a lack of institutional experience.

Building employee support

With that in mind, how should companies go about building the employee experiences they need to ensure they have the full support of their workers?

The HR team can leverage cloud technology and implement a comprehensive human resource management system (HRMS) in order to automate most of their mundane manual tasks. Through HRMS, an organisation can also create a self-service model so employees have a single portal for various activities, such as applying for leave and adding medical claims. By creating workflows, the company can ensure that when a request is raised, the appropriate approver is automatically notified. Automating processes will free up the HR team to focus on employee engagement activities.

Rethinking talent acquisition

The rise of remote work as a result of the pandemic saw many people leave big cities for smaller towns and villages. For some, the move was inspired by the prospect of a better quality of life; for others, it was about being closer to family.

Rather than lament the loss of centralised offices in big cities, smart organisations should see this as an opportunity. Instead of fighting over the same pool of talent available in metro cities, they can create opportunities for those living in non-urban centres or rural areas, and invest in skill development.

At Zoho, for instance, we have always believed that talent is everywhere, though opportunities are not. We have traditionally hired people from all backgrounds and opened offices away from city centres in order to tap under-utilised talent in smaller towns and rural areas. We expanded this approach during the pandemic by opening smaller, satellite offices wherever we had enough employees residing, instead of prompting them to come back to the office. We have been hiring locally in these satellite offices. By creating opportunities in the sought-after tech sector in non-urban and rural areas, we help communities retain talent and flourish. This adds a sense of purpose to the job, which also helps in retaining talent.

The right (virtual) environment

Even if an organisation meets its employees’ needs when it comes to working location, it’s still important for it to provide the best possible working environment (even if it’s a virtual one).

One of the most effective ways of doing this is to take a considered approach to the software solutions your employees work with on a daily basis. Rather than a patchwork of software solutions, for example, organisations can benefit from a unified enterprise software suite that meets all their needs—from documentation to meetings, to CRM. In an increasingly hybrid work environment, keeping data and processes on a unified system leads to better visibility and fosters cross-functional collaboration.

A holistic approach

Employers looking to ensure that their businesses do not fall prey to The Great Resignation need to have an understanding of the concerns Gen Z and millennial employees have with respect to the workplace and their career paths. They should be deliberate in creating a flexible working experience where the employee can thrive in a globally competitive environment.

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Jalo-Waziri Bows Out as CSCS CEO, Shehu Shantali Takes Over

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Shehu Shantali

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) has announced the appointment of Mr Shehu Yahaya Shantali as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective January 1, 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

Mr Shantali will succeed Mr Haruna Jalo-Waziri, who will step down after an eight-year tenure, where he contributed significantly to advancing Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure.

During his tenure, Mr Jalo-Waziri provided visionary and results-driven leadership that delivered sustained growth and far-reaching transformation across the organisation.

He led the successful execution of critical strategic initiatives, strengthened governance and operational effectiveness, and modernised the company’s systems and processes, positioning the organisation for long-term resilience and competitiveness.

His leadership significantly enhanced stakeholder confidence, deepened the organisation’s market relevance both domestically and internationally, and established a strong, future-ready foundation for continued success.

Commenting on the appointment, the Chairman of the CSCS board, Mr Temi Popoola, said: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our profound appreciation to Haruna Jalo-Waziri for his outstanding service to CSCS. Under his leadership, the company recorded notable milestones and built an impressive legacy of operational excellence, innovation, and stakeholder confidence. We thank him sincerely for his dedication and impact.

“We are equally delighted to welcome Shehu Shantali as the new Chief Executive Officer of CSCS. He brings a wealth of experience, deep industry knowledge, and a strong strategic vision. The Board is confident that he will build on the solid foundation laid by his predecessor and lead the Company into its next phase of growth.”

Mr Shehu Yahaya Shantali holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an Executive MBA from Kingston Business School. He has over two decades of experience in accounting, finance, and financial services across Nigeria and the United Kingdom, with expertise spanning investment and asset management, financial advisory, and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

His career cuts across capital markets, investment banking, real estate, and financial services, and is underpinned by a decade at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, where he championed the migration of publicly listed and significant public interest entities from Nigerian GAAP to IFRS and led the Commission’s transition to the contributory pension scheme in 2012.

Mr Shantali has built deep experience in financial inclusion, digital financial infrastructure, and the development of scalable, market-wide platforms that expand access to regulated financial services. As Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Apricot Investments Limited, he led the development of the MicroWorld platform, enabling the distribution of structured financial products, including micro-health, micro-pension, micro-housing, micro-insurance, and micro-investment solutions.

Earlier in his career, his team developed Nigeria’s first contactless payment solution, and he played a pioneering role in POS-based agency banking and early mobile-money interoperability on the NIBSS NIP platform, supporting efficient payments, settlement, and system-wide connectivity.

Reflecting on his tenure, the outgoing CEO, Mr Jalo-Waziri, stated: “It has been an honour to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of CSCS. I am proud of what we have achieved together as a team and grateful for the support of the Board, management, regulators, and all our stakeholders. I am confident that CSCS is well-positioned for the future, and I wish my successor every success as he takes the company forward.

In his remarks, the incoming CEO, Mr Shantali, said: “I am deeply honoured by the confidence the Board has placed in me with this appointment. CSCS plays a critical role in Nigeria’s capital market ecosystem, and I look forward to working with the Board, management, staff, regulators, and market participants to strengthen the Company’s leadership position further, deliver value to stakeholders, and support the continued growth and stability of the capital market.”

In a statement, CSCS Plc commended Mr Jalo-Waziri for his contributions to enhancing the company’s operational capabilities and fostering market development during his tenure with the organisation.

The company reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance, operational excellence, and stakeholder engagement as it continues to support the Nigerian capital market.

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Tinubu Approves Reconstitution of NERC Board

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NERC

By Adedapo Adesanya

President Bola Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of the board of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), following the Senate’s confirmation of its members on December 16.

This was disclosed in a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.

He noted that the board is chaired by Mr Musiliu Olalekan Oseni, who started his service as a Commissioner in January 2017. He was subsequently appointed Vice Chairman of the commission.

His appointment as Chairman took effect from December 1, 2025, and shall subsist until the completion of his ten-year tenure at the commission, in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2023.

Mr Yusuf Ali is now the Vice Chairman. He was first appointed as a Commissioner in February 2022. His designation as Vice Chairman took effect on 1 December 2025 and shall remain in effect until the completion of his first term.

The others are; Mr Nathan Rogers Shatti — Commissioner. He is serving a second term as commissioner. He was first appointed in January 2017.

Mr Dafe Akpeneye — Commissioner. He is serving a second term, having been first appointed as a Commissioner in January 2017.

Mrs Aisha Mahmud Kanti Bello — Commissioner. She is serving her second term, having been first appointed as a Commissioner in December 2020.

Mr Chidi Ike, PhD— Commissioner. He is serving his first term, having been first appointed as a Commissioner in February 2022.

Mr Fouad Animashaun, PhD — Commissioner. He is serving his first term, effective December 2025. He is an energy economist with extensive experience in the Nigerian power sector and most recently served as Executive Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

President Tinubu charged the board members of NERC to deepen and consolidate the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s power sector, in strict alignment with the letter and spirit of the Electricity Act, 2023.

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NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed, NUPRC Boss Gbenga Komolafe Resign

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farouk ahmed gbenga komolafe

By Adedapo Adesanya

The chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, has resigned alongside his counterpart at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr Gbenga Komolafe.

Based on the development, President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm new chief executives for the two agencies.

The President’s request was contained in separate letters to the Senate on Wednesday, according to a statement signed by Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, late on Wednesday.

Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

To fill these positions, President Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting expedited confirmation of Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Mr Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.

Mr Ahmed’s resignation comes amid a high-profile conflict with businessman, Mr Aliko Dangote, who alleged that the NMDPRA chief and his family were living beyond their legitimate means, citing millions of Dollars allegedly spent on overseas schooling for his four children.

Mr Eyesan, a graduate of Economics from the University of Benin, spent nearly 33 years with the NNPC and its subsidiaries. She retired as Executive Vice President, Upstream (2023–2024), and previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy at NNPC from 2019 to 2023.

Mr Mohammed, born in 1957 in Gombe, graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1981 with a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering. He was announced today as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy.

His prior roles include Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, as well as Chair of the boards of West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail.

He also served as Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power Directorate, where he provided strategic leadership for major gas projects and policy frameworks, including the Gas Masterplan, Gas Network Code, and contributions to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He played a pivotal role in delivering key projects such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, and Nigeria LNG Train.

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