In a move to increase membership, the Lagos branch of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), may be considering debt forgiveness as panacea for reconciliation and way forward for the chapter.

Mr. Ben Omakor, Lagos Chapter Chairman of CIPM had said in a forum for stakeholders of the branch on the challenges of branch development; that since the branch had produced both the present and past presidents of the central body, the onus is on it to set an agenda for forward moving personnel management in Nigeria.

Omakor noted that to achieving coherence and increased membership, the branch, he said, is considering debt forgiveness for erring members.

His words, "it is my considered view that the files of old members should be dusted and be encouraged to register; perhaps concession of debt forgiveness of some sort may be given."

He also observed that since the introduction of exams based route to membership, the institute had witnessed drastic decline in registration of senior corporate individuals, he lamented.

"But we fear that except we show sufficient interest in the affairs of the state, we may be unwittingly enthroning mediocrity in leadership both at central and state levels."

Further on the challenges, he stated, "it has been the desire of the branch to get the Ikorodu PPCA functional by the first quarter of 2009. We need cooperation from our members in that area concerning the issue of hosting our monthly meetings."

Continuing, he said that programmes at the state level are somewhat hampered by lack of funds, while believing that the branch can do well to increase its finances by contributing a token , he pleaded.

Omakor also noted that the institute in a bid to douse off some of these challenges has opened additional windows to membership ; that is the practitioners route and accelerated programme for affiliates.

Aside the other challenges facing the chapter, one major challenge , he said was on how to make colleagues aware of the alternative windows, and how to encourage them to join the institute.

According to him, "we must have a co-ordinated and effective liaison with head of departments of tertiary institutions for the sake of offering them regular professional talks."