COVER
Easter: Osinbajo, Jonathan, Atiku others Assure Hope for Nigeria
…Imbibe Spirit of Sacrifice – CAN
… Anglican Church Opens Doors for Unwedded Couples
By Martin Paul, Orkula Shaagee, Abuja
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) yesterday encouraged Nigerians to “have great hope that things are going to get better for the country”.
Osinbajo, who stated this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, prayed that Nigeria should experience the grace and mercy of God.
The statement titled: ‘Osinbajo’s Easter Message to Nigerians: All Will Be Well with Our Country” read thus: “I just want to thank God for our nation, and pray that our nation will experience the grace and mercy of God in so many different ways that we are expecting His grace and mercy.
All will be well in Jesus name”.While wishing Nigerians a Happy Easter celebration, the vice president added that the message was as a result of the special and exceeding love and grace of God.
“God’s plan for humanity was that Christ will die and will resurrect. The resurrection is evidence of the fact that those who believe would be saved eternally and would live eternal joy and peace with the Almighty. And that promise is open to every single person. “Whoever you are, that promise is open to you”, Osinbajo said,
Jonathan Preaches Love, Atiku Talks Forgiving Spirit
Former president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has felicitated with Nigerian Christians as they celebrate Easter.
In statement posted on his verified Twitter handle, Jonathan said the resurrection of the Lord Jesus is fundamental to all Christians.
He, thereafter, called on Christians and all Nigerians to prioritise love, peace and unity as a means of tackling the current security and economic challenges bedeviling the country.
Similarly, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has urged Nigerians to pray for the peace and unity of the country.
Atiku said Nigeria would overcome its challenges when citizens emulate Jesus Christ by having a heart of forgiveness.
The former Vice President made the remark in his Easter message to Nigerians.
Atiku urged Nigerians to unite against the country’s challenges like most advanced countries did against COVID-19.
He pointed out that without sacrifice, love is not achievable amongst Nigerians.
Atiku described Easter period as a time of reflection and sacrifice.
In the message he personally signed, Atiku said, “The essence of Easter celebration is not merely for us to merry.
“This occasion of Easter celebration, I urge all Nigerians to take time to pray first of all for peace to return to the country and also for unity.
“Nigeria is at the precipice of insecurity, poverty and, most unfortunately, disunity.
“These are challenges, not impediments. The way to surmount these challenges is to learn from the world when super power countries who are rivals suspended politics to face a common threat in COVID-19.
“I believe that when we approach our challenges with a heart of forgiveness and love, humanity will always triumph. This is the lesson that Jesus (Nabil Yisa) taught us.”
The former Vice President also appealed to Nigerians to pray for the military for their sacrifices in keeping citizens safe.
Imbibe Spirit of Sacrifice – CAN
Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kogi chapter, Bishop John Ibenu, has urged Nigerians to imbibe the sacrificial life of Christ to guarantee peace and security in the nation. Ibenu disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lokoja.
He said that Nigerians should live a life of sacrifice, love and forgiveness to guarantee peaceful coexistence in the nation. The cleric said that Easter was all about sacrifice, love, forgiveness, peace and eternal life, which were the mission of Jesus Christ on the earth according to God’s divine plans.
He urged Christians to learn to wait on God, read and speak about their faith, pray together, pray for one another, the nation, Kogi and for humanity at large. ”I congratulate Christians and the entire humanity for the crucifixion and the eventual resurrection of Jesus Christ today being Easter Sunday. ”As we mark this occasion which actually marks the life of sacrifice, I call on all Christians, the people of Kogi, Nigerians and all of humanity to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice.
”Jesus Christ, even though, God, left everything in heaven for the sake of humanity to come down to our level. ”I call on everyone especially those who are in high positions to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice. Let our leaders be humble and become servant leaders.
”Jesus came to teach us servant leadership and in so doing he sacrificed and laid down his life for humanity. ”Jesus came to transform humanity and give eternal life, therefore, let us work for the transformation of our state, nation and humanity,” Ibenu said.
He called on all Nigerians, irrespective of their differences to love their neighbour as themselves and to also strive to improve the lives of others. ”Christians, Muslims, pagans, let us embrace the life of sacrifice in our offices, homes and markets to make the life of everyone around us better.
Anglican Church Opens Doors for Unwedded Couples
In the spirit o Easter,Anglicam Communion has opens its doors for couples who have been faced by recurrent economic and social challenges that had prevented them from the solemnization of their holy matrimony.
They have been given a window of opportunity to participate in a correctional marriage programme by the Church in Nigeria on the second Saturday after every Easter Sunday of the year..
This announcement was made public by the Primate of All Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba during the general announcements to close the special service to mark the 2021 Easter Sunday at the Cathedral Church of The Advent, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
In his brief announcement of the programme nationwide, he said, “We hereby invite you all to attend a programme for the correctional marriage of some members who might need the blessing of the Church on their marriages on Saturday the 17th of April, 2021. “This is the opportunity for members and indeed all of those who have been living together and raising a family but have been unable to organize a wedding ceremony as elaborate as they wished due to some socio-economic challenges.
“We in the Church have decided to do this, not only this year but in every year on the second Saturday after Easter Sunday.
“We also want Churches across the country to note that it is a mass wedding programme and because we are trying to make things easy for participants, the event should also go with a mass reception for all of those who participate in the programme. During the sermon he delivered on the pulpit of the church”, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba said.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) yesterday disclosed that a total sum of N7.31 trillion accrued to the Federation Account between July and Dec. 2023.This was captured in the monthly report to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the caption “CBN Federation Account Component Statement”.
This amount is higher than the sum of N5. 244 trillion realised in the first half of year 2023, according to a statement signed by the RMAFC Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Bello Shehu and made available to the media in Abuja.The chairman disclosed that out of the total gross revenue inflows into the Federation Account, the sum of N1,692 trillion was transferred to the Exchange Gain Differential Account, thus leaving a balance of N5.475 billion for distribution.He added that from the amount stated above, the sum of N3.26 trillion was deducted as approved statutory deductions by the OAGF, leaving a net balance of N2.2 trillion for distribution to the three tiers of government within the period under review.The chairman explained that out of the N3.267 trillion statutory deduction indicated above, N2.251 trillion was transferred to the Non-Oil Excess Account as savings, thus leaving a net statutory deduction of N1.016 trillion with further augmentations for sharing among the three tiers of government received from some “reserve accounts.”The statement added that within the period under review, the net sum of N4 trillion was shared with the three tiers of government, an amount higher than the total sum of N3.06 trillion.In terms of percentages, the chairman stressed that “the statutory deduction in the second half of the year constituted 44.12 percent of the total gross inflow into the Federation Account in the six-month period, which was higher than the first half deductions of 42.31 percent (inclusive of transfer to the Non-Oil Excess Account).”On remittances by Revenue Generating Agencies (RGAs), the RMAFC chairman disclosed that out of the total gross revenue inflows into the Federation Account, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) remitted N874 64 billion in the second half of the year as against the zero-remittance made in the first half of the year.Similarly, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) remitted the sum of N1.56 trillion while the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) remitted N3.65 trillion
By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 98th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting yesterday ended without a word on the much talked-about replacement of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Iliya Damagum, an indication that he will continue to function in that position.
In an interview with newsmen after the meeting, the PDP spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba said for now, the party is focusing on issues of reconciliation and its stability, adding that the issue of the Acting National Chairmanship had been “deferred to the next NEC meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for August 15, 2024″. Also speaking, the Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed said the party is united as there was no dissension and rancour.In his words, “It was planned that the party would have an implosion. PDP is more than that. We have gone beyond all that. This party is united, guided by experience and constitutionality.”There were a lot of permutations and mischievous thinking outside there. But we looked at all the issues and we worked along our guidelines and constitution.“There is no problem or dissension and problem among members,” Mohammed said.The well attended NEC meeting was held amid tight security as police and personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) condoned off roads leading to the PDP Secretariat, Abuja and diverted vehicular traffic.It will be recalled that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) had passed a vote of confidence on Damagum during its meeting on Tuesday.A communique issued at the end of the three hours meeting commended all the organs of the party for their collective resilience, steadfastness and commitment towards the unity, stability and sustenance the party despite daunting challenges.The communique commended the efforts of the NWC in its effort towards rebranding the party and urged all party members to continue to work together for the success of the PDP for the benefit of Nigerians and sustenance of democracy in our country.The document which was read by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ologunagba, however, expressed concern over what it described as the ill-implemented policies of the APC administration, leading to worsening insecurity, harrowing economic hardship, soaring unemployment rate, high cost of food and other necessities of life with pervading misery and despondency across the country.”NEC expresses serious apprehension over the spate of acts of terrorism and violence including the escalated cases of mindless killings, mass abduction of innocent Nigerians and marauding of communities in various parts of the country.”NEC condemns the insensitivity, nonchalance, incompetence and arrogance in failure of the APC administration which continues to conduct itself in a manner that shows that it has no iota of interest or commitment towards the wellbeing of Nigerians.”NEC also condemns the creeping totalitarianism and tendencies towards a One-Party State which is inimical to the peace, stability and corporate existence of our nation as well as the development of Democracy and good governance in the country,” it said.The communique demanded that President Bola Tinubu should urgently convene a special National Security Council meeting to proffer a holistic solution and measures to curb the disturbing insecurity with its attendant negative consequences on the nation.It also called on the president to “immediately rejig his Economic Team to bring in persons of proven integrity and competence without bias and vested interest to assist in repositioning the economy.”NEC further demands that the Federal Government should review all policies and programmes which are stifling the economy with suffocating effect on the lives of citizens; including the increase in price of fuel without cushioning measures, hike in electricity tariff, increased taxation and implementation of adverse fiscal policies,” the communique added.Present at the meeting were FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and many other past and presently elected members of the PDP.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced a review of the loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) for banks from 65 percent to 50 percent to align with the current monetary tightening.
LDR is used to assess a bank’s liquidity by comparing its total loans to its total deposits.
An increase in the loan-to-deposit ratio allows banks to expand their credits to businesses and individuals, however, a decline in LDR reduces their ability to loan customers from depositors’ funds.
CBN disclosed the increase in a circular titled “Re: Regulatory Measures to Improve Lending to the Sector of the Nigerian Economy”, signed by Adetona Adedeji, CBN Acting Director, Banking Supervision Department.
“Following a shift in the b ank’s policy stance towards a more contractionary approach, it is imperative to review the loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) policy to align with the current monetary tightening by the CBN,” the apex bank said.
“Accordingly, the CBN has decided to reduce the LDR by 15 percentage points to 50%, in a similar proportion to the increase in the CRR rate for banks.
“All DMBs are required to maintain this level and are further advised that average daily figures shall continue to be applied to assess compliance.”At the last monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting on March 26, the CBN retained the CRR at 45 percent and the liquidity rate at 30 percent.
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