NEWS
Catholic Bishop Urges FG to be Sensitive to Citizens Problem
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Most Rev Dr Calistus Onaga has urged the government at all levels in Nigeria to be sensitive to the problem of the citizens, especially the Federal Government.
Bishop Onaga disclosed this in his Christmas message delivered at the Bishop’s Court, Independence Layout, Enugu State.
Onaga lamented that the economy is very hard on people, stressing that there is a cash crunch in this Christmas period and people cannot get cash to celebrate this festive season.
According to him, transportation has become a nightmare, the flight tickets are high, transportation by roads is not safe, and the roads are bad.
Federal government announced 50 percent transport remuneration.The clergy asked, “How many people are going to get it in this festive period”?
“Please I am begging the government of all levels to be sensitive, mostly federal. My brothers and sisters at the helm of affairs, you are working for us. Let them have conscience that one day, we shall all stand before God and answer. Think of the way you are going to make things better for us”.
He admonished Christians to know the importance of celebrating Christmas, pointing out that people overstress the material side of Christmas and probably the festivity without knowing the meaning.
He said Christmas means the mass of Christ “Christa Masse”.
He emphasized that Christmas is celebrating the incarnation of God taking flesh in order to save man easily. “We are celebrating the birth of Christ that is why the joy that comes with it looks very uncontrollable every year. Every year it takes up a ride that is not what it was before.
“Like this year with all the difficulties Nigerians are facing, nobody will be thinking of Christmas but this year seemed to be the highest. In Christmas we emphasize that God is with us and if he is with us nobody can be against us”.
“In Christmas we say that God is a saviour, he came down to redeem man. In Christmas we share that love of Christ in human beings and that is why you see the exchange of gifts that goes around. That is mimicking what God has done for us”. He urged Christians to always show love of God and forgive one another.
He also advises Christiana on the right way to wish a happy Christmas saying it is not a happy holiday but a happy Christmas. He emphasized that it was anti-Christ that introduced the use of happy holidays instead of happy Christmas in order to kill the loudness of Christmas. “We have been having holidays,” he said.
He furthermore warned film play writers, television and print media to desist from disseminating films and information that promote evil. He further advised them to change their method of conveying values, especially the good cultural values, not ritual killings. “You don’t kill to make money, they are all fallacies.”
He condemned the rate at which youths go into ritual killings and fetish practices. He also urges people not to add to the difficulties by committing different crimes, creating artificial scarcity or selling fake products. He finally wished everyone a happy Christmas.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have repelled a deadly attack by ISWAP terrorists in Damboa, Borno, neutralising 21 insurgents and recovering a cache of arms and ammunition.
Capt. Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters Theatre Command, confirmed this in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Friday.
Report saya that the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, targeted troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade.
Daily Asset, however, reports that the soldiers, with the support of the Air Component of OPHK, engaged the terrorists in a fierce and prolonged firefight that lasted over two hours.
Kovangiya said the troops displayed gallantry and tactical superiority during the confrontation, forcing the terrorists to retreat in disarray, leaving behind more than 21 of their fighters who were neutralised during the engagement.
“The gallant troops, supported by Close Air Support, stood their ground and repelled the attack despite the ferocity of the enemy.
“The insurgents suffered devastating losses and were forced to flee,” he said.
The spokesman said that during the exchange of fire, an ammunition storage facility within the military formation was hit by a blast, but the situation was quickly brought under control.
He also confirmed that the troops recorded minor casualties.
“Following the mop-up and exploitation operation, the following weapons and ammunition were recovered:
“Two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) three Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tubes, one pump-action rifle, nine AK-47 rifles, three belts of PKT rounds, eight AK-47 magazines, seven RPG bombs, two boxes of 12.7mm x 99mm ammunition, one and a half box of PKT rounds and 20 pieces of 36 hand grenades,” Kovangiya said.
The spokesman said that the success of the operation was a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of joint land and air efforts in counterterrorism operations which further reaffirmed the Nigerian military’s resolve to restore peace in the North-east.
“The bravery and sacrifice of the troops remain a symbol of national pride.
“Their unwavering commitment to defeating insurgency and restoring peace in the region is commendable,” he said.(NAN)
Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State, on Friday, inaugurated the Enugu State Human Development Council at the Government House. He stressed that human capital remains the true wealth of any nation and a core priority of his administration. The Council is chaired by the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, and includes State Executive Council members and heads of MDAs.
Also represented are the legislature, local governments, traditional rulers, church leaders, and civil society organisations. Mbah explained the Council aligns with his government’s emphasis on human development and social investment. He urged the members to take the task seriously and work towards tangible outcomes. “One of our top priorities is eradicating poverty and reducing the poverty headcount to zero,” Mbah noted. He added that the government’s philosophy prioritises human capital over natural resources. “Our last two budgets allocated over 50 per cent to social services,” the governor stated. In his response, Ossai assured the governor of members’ commitment to the Council’s goals. He emphasised that all government initiatives — from schools to roads — are people-focused. “All our projects aim to improve lives, and the Council will help us track and measure progress,” Ossai said. (NAN)
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to honour the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement or face a nationwide industrial action. ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, issued this warning during a news conference in Abuja on Friday. He stressed the importance of the government fulfilling its promises and addressing the worsening conditions in Nigerian universities.
According to Piwuna, nine critical issues remain unresolved, including the stalled renegotiation process since 2017. He mentioned withheld salaries from the 2022 strike and unpaid entitlements linked to the contentious Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Piwuna also criticised the delayed release of revitalisation funds and earned academic allowances due to government inaction. In spite of promises to inject ₦150 billion into universities and adjust irregular allowances by 2026, he said these commitments remain unfulfilled. He highlighted the marginalisation of ASUU members at state institutions such as Kogi State University and Lagos State University. According to him, victimisation, salary denial, and job insecurity persist in those universities, undermining staff morale. On university autonomy, he said political interference has compromised the selection of leaders, citing Nnamdi Azikiwe and Abuja universities as examples. Piwuna warned that universities are becoming battlegrounds for political and economic interests, which he described as unacceptable. He called for a national rebirth through education, saying it is vital for Nigeria’s transformation and prosperity. To address the crisis, he proposed a national education summit focusing on funding, autonomy, and academic welfare. “Education empowers citizens, drives innovation, and instils values. Without it, development is impossible,” Piwuna said. He reaffirmed ASUU’s commitment to reforming Nigerian universities and urged patriotic Nigerians and global allies to support their struggle. “Our universities should be centres for solutions to national challenges. “We are open to dialogue but will not tolerate further erosion of our rights,” Piwuna said. (NAN
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