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The Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has questioned some managers and staff members of the institute over their non-participation in the mandatory Tuesday and Thursday fitness and aerobics exercises organized by the management.
The exercise, which is part of management’s efforts to promote physical fitness, healthy living and well-being of staff, is mandatory for all staff members of the institution, regardless of their rank or position.
The questions followed the observation that some key officers and other staff members were absent from scheduled exercise sessions, a development that prompted management to reiterate its position that participation in the program is mandatory and not subject to individual preferences. Project reports
The move is part of NIS leadership’s efforts to strengthen discipline and accountability within the institution, while encouraging employees to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Management insists on compliance
According to management, the gymnastics and aerobics sessions were introduced as a deliberate institutional policy aimed at improving the general well-being of workers and creating a healthier working environment.
Management said the program was not designed simply as a recreational activity but as part of a broader effort to promote physical activity and a healthy lifestyle among staff members.
He stressed that the directive applies equally to managers and other employees, noting that no staff member is exempt from the practice on the basis of rank or position.
Questions issued by the DG therefore serve to remind officials that the institution expects full compliance with policies introduced to improve staff well-being and institutional effectiveness.
Management further considered that only legitimate reasons, which should be appropriately communicated to the relevant authorities, would justify the absence of any staff member from the scheduled exercise.
It is intended that the Tuesday and Thursday sessions will remain part of the institute’s regular activities, and staff will need to make appropriate arrangements to attend.
NIS seeks healthier workforce
Speaking about the rationale behind the initiative, management highlighted the importance of maintaining a physically and mentally healthy workforce, particularly in an institution whose core mandate revolves around sports education and development.
The NIS is responsible for the training and development of sports professionals and other staff in the Nigerian sports sector, placing physical fitness and healthy living at the heart of the values the institute seeks to promote.
Management said it would be contradictory for an institution at the center of sports development to promote physical activity externally while its own workforce fails to embrace similar practices.
Regular exercise sessions are therefore expected to encourage staff members to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine, while at the same time creating opportunities for employees to interact outside of their normal office responsibilities.
Beyond the immediate physical benefits, management believes a healthier workforce could help improve concentration, morale and productivity in the workplace.
The initiative is therefore seen as part of the institution’s broader responsibility to ensure that its workforce remains physically fit, motivated and able to carry out their duties effectively.
Part of a broader reform agenda
The implementation of the mandatory exercise program also reflects what management has described as part of Shaibu’s broader reform program for the institution.
The agenda places emphasis on discipline, accountability, staff wellbeing and improved productivity, with management seeking to ensure that institutional policies are implemented consistently at all levels.
The decision to question senior officials and other employees who did not participate in the operation is seen as an indication that management intends to apply its directives without discrimination.
Rather than limiting the program to junior staff members, management expects key officers and senior officers to participate and demonstrate the same level of commitment required of other employees.
Leadership believes that compliance with internal policies is essential to building an institution where staff members understand their responsibilities and management directives are taken seriously.
The approach also places the responsibility on officials to communicate in advance whenever circumstances make it impossible for them to attend scheduled sessions.
The well-being of staff remains a priority
While insisting on compliance, management said the exercise program is ultimately aimed at improving the well-being of staff members.
Regular physical activity can be an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and the institute’s management wants its employees to see the program as an opportunity to take better care of their health rather than simply as another official obligation.
The initiative is also expected to contribute to the creation of a more vibrant working environment where employees are encouraged to pay more attention to their physical well-being.
Management therefore urged staff members to approach the sessions with the seriousness they deserve and to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the institute to remain physically active.
He also encouraged officers to make personal fitness and healthy living part of their broader lifestyle beyond the designated Tuesday and Thursday sessions.
Management reiterates the directive
The management of the NIS consequently reiterated that participation in the mandatory fitness maintenance and aerobic exercises remains mandatory for all staff of the institute.
Employees who have genuine reasons for not attending a session are expected to communicate those reasons through appropriate channels and obtain necessary consideration from management.
Leadership said the goal is not to punish staff but to ensure compliance with an institutional policy designed to promote their well-being and improve productivity.
It is therefore expected that questions asked of officers who did not participate will reinforce the importance placed on the program and encourage greater participation in subsequent sessions.
Management also called on all staff members to support the initiative and recognize the role of personal fitness in maintaining an effective workforce.
He emphasized that the success of any institution depends significantly on the commitment, discipline and well-being of its workforce.
For the NIS, management believes that promoting such values internally will strengthen its ability to effectively fulfill its mandate to contribute to sports education, training and development in Nigeria.
As a result, management has argued that a healthy workforce remains essential to building a more efficient, disciplined and productive National Institute for Sports.
