₦airaland Forum

The present chaos which the approval of same sex marriage by the Americans is causing has led to many people wondering what the Christian denominations are saying to their congregations. A quote on the timeline of a facebook user says “everything has been zeroed down to the US and all curses directed on them and Obama even being referred to as the anti-Christ himself.” Now, what does the church say? celebrity same sex marriage Married gay couple The Anglicans For the Anglican Communion, they have been divided over the issue of homosexuality in several ways. The Church of England, the mother church of the Communion, has stated currently that same-sex partnerships are acceptable for laypersons but gay clergy are expected to abstain. For the records, Bishop Gene Robinson is the first openly bisexual clergy to be ordained to the episcopate while Mary Glasspool became first open lesbian suffragan bishop to be consecrated a bishop. The Baptists On their part, the Baptists believe that the Bible condemns homosexuality. They stated clearly that its members “affirm God’s plan for marriage and sexual intimacy – one man, and one woman, for life. Homosexuality is not a ‘valid alternative lifestyle.’ It is not, however, an unforgivable sin. The same redemption available to all sinners is available to homosexuals. They, too, may become new creations in Christ.” Independent Fundamental Baptist churches also view homosexuality as sinful or unnatural. READ ALSO: Survey Reveals What Nigerians Think About Same Sex Marriage The Orthodox To them, sexuality is part of the fallen world only. Their theology of monasticism and marriage are paths to Salvation. Celibacy is the ideal path, exemplified in monasticism, while marriage is blessed under the context of true love. The construct to the non-orthodox means inclusive of homosexuality. In contrast a vast majority of the Orthodox see it as exclusive of homosexuality. Traditionally, the church has adopted a non- legalistic view of homosexuality as sin. The Jehovah’s Witnesses They consider same-sex marriage as sinful, but recognise that some people may be prone to homosexuality, including members of their congregation. They mandate members to desist from such “serious sin” , but should not hate homosexual individuals. They admonish that Christians should not make homosexuals the target of scorn. They believe that God intended marriage to be a permanent and an intimate bond between a man and a woman. The Witnesses have stated that it “cannot give homosexuality a cloak of respectability”, and are told to avoid debates about the legality of homosexuality: “Even when the laws of the land are in conflict with their Bible-trained conscience, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not engage in protests or any form of political campaigns in order to change such laws.” The Methodists Up till now however, the Methodist Church of Great Britain has not taken a definitive stance on homosexuality. Although it affirms the traditional belief that individuals should remain chaste outside marriage. In 2006, the Church also prohibited the blessing of same sex unions on or off church property. They have also declared that “homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching.” The Pentecostals Most churches that are within the Pentecostal Movement view homosexual behavior as a sin. In the US recently, Assemblies of God made its view clear on homosexuality in a position paper stating that “It should be noted at the outset that there is absolutely no affirmation of homosexual behavior found anywhere in the Scripture. Rather, the consistent sexual ideal is chastity for those outside a monogamous heterosexual marriage and fidelity for those inside such a marriage. There is also abundant evidence that homosexual behavior, along with illicit heterosexual behavior, is immoral and comes under the judgment of God.” READ ALSO: Same-Sex Marriage: Fears Trail Buhari’s Meeting With Obama The Presbyterians Moreover, on June 19, 2014, the Presbyterian Church in USA voted to change its definition of marriage and allow its pastors to officiate same- sex ceremonies in states where gay marriage is legal. By a vote of 429-175, leaders of the 1.76 million-member Church voted during the biennial General Assembly in Detroit to change the denomination’s Book of Order to describe marriage as being between “two people”. It had approved the ordination of non-celibate gays on July 8, 2010, when, by a vote of 373 to 323, the General Assembly voted to propose to the presbyteries a constitutional amendment to remove the restriction against the ordination of partnered homosexuals. The Roman Catholic Lastly, appealing to the traditional values of Filipino Catholic families, Pope Francis, the head Catholics earlier in 2015 made one of his strongest calls as pope against movements to recognize same-sex unions as marriage. However, the largest Swedenborgian denomination in North America, the General Church of the New Jerusalem, does not ordain gay and lesbian ministers, but the oldest denomination, the Swedenborgian Church of North America, does. On a general note, the world is tempted by confusing presentations of sexuality, marriage and the family. As it is, families are now threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage. There have been mixed reactions from all over the world ever since the Supreme court in America legalised the marriage with the same gender. https://www.naij.com/478659-what-8-church-denominations-say-about- same-sex-marriage.html

The present chaos which the approval of same sex marriage by the
Americans is causing has led to many people wondering what the
Christian denominations are saying to their congregations.
A quote on the timeline of a facebook user says “everything has been
zeroed down to the US and all curses directed on them and Obama even
being referred to as the anti-Christ himself.”
Now, what does the church say?
celebrity same sex
marriage
Married gay couple
The Anglicans
For the Anglican Communion, they have been divided over the issue of
homosexuality in several ways. The Church of England, the mother church
of the Communion, has stated currently that same-sex partnerships are
acceptable for laypersons but gay clergy are expected to abstain. For the
records, Bishop Gene Robinson is the first openly bisexual clergy to be
ordained to the episcopate while Mary Glasspool became first open lesbian
suffragan bishop to be consecrated a bishop.
The Baptists
On their part, the Baptists believe that the Bible condemns homosexuality.
They stated clearly that its members “affirm God’s plan for marriage and
sexual intimacy – one man, and one woman, for life. Homosexuality is not
a ‘valid alternative lifestyle.’ It is not, however, an unforgivable sin. The
same redemption available to all sinners is available to homosexuals.
They, too, may become new creations in Christ.” Independent Fundamental
Baptist churches also view homosexuality as sinful or unnatural.
READ ALSO: Survey Reveals What Nigerians Think About Same Sex
Marriage
The Orthodox
To them, sexuality is part of the fallen world only. Their theology of
monasticism and marriage are paths to Salvation. Celibacy is the ideal
path, exemplified in monasticism, while marriage is blessed under the
context of true love. The construct to the non-orthodox means inclusive of
homosexuality. In contrast a vast majority of the Orthodox see it as
exclusive of homosexuality. Traditionally, the church has adopted a non-
legalistic view of homosexuality as sin.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses
They consider same-sex marriage as sinful, but recognise that some
people may be prone to homosexuality, including members of their
congregation. They mandate members to desist from such “serious sin” ,
but should not hate homosexual individuals. They admonish that
Christians should not make homosexuals the target of scorn. They believe
that God intended marriage to be a permanent and an intimate bond
between a man and a woman. The Witnesses have stated that it “cannot
give homosexuality a cloak of respectability”, and are told to avoid debates
about the legality of homosexuality: “Even when the laws of the land are in
conflict with their Bible-trained conscience, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not
engage in protests or any form of political campaigns in order to change
such laws.”
The Methodists
Up till now however, the Methodist Church of Great Britain has not taken a
definitive stance on homosexuality. Although it affirms the traditional
belief that individuals should remain chaste outside marriage. In 2006, the
Church also prohibited the blessing of same sex unions on or off church
property. They have also declared that “homosexual practice is
incompatible with Christian teaching.”
The Pentecostals
Most churches that are within the Pentecostal Movement view homosexual
behavior as a sin. In the US recently, Assemblies of God made its view
clear on homosexuality in a position paper stating that “It should be noted
at the outset that there is absolutely no affirmation of homosexual
behavior found anywhere in the Scripture. Rather, the consistent sexual
ideal is chastity for those outside a monogamous heterosexual marriage
and fidelity for those inside such a marriage. There is also abundant
evidence that homosexual behavior, along with illicit heterosexual
behavior, is immoral and comes under the judgment of God.”
READ ALSO: Same-Sex Marriage: Fears Trail Buhari’s Meeting With Obama
The Presbyterians
Moreover, on June 19, 2014, the Presbyterian Church in USA voted to
change its definition of marriage and allow its pastors to officiate same-
sex ceremonies in states where gay marriage is legal. By a vote of
429-175, leaders of the 1.76 million-member Church voted during the
biennial General Assembly in Detroit to change the denomination’s Book of
Order to describe marriage as being between “two people”. It had approved
the ordination of non-celibate gays on July 8, 2010, when, by a vote of 373
to 323, the General Assembly voted to propose to the presbyteries a
constitutional amendment to remove the restriction against the ordination
of partnered homosexuals.
The Roman Catholic
Lastly, appealing to the traditional values of Filipino Catholic families, Pope
Francis, the head Catholics earlier in 2015 made one of his strongest calls
as pope against movements to recognize same-sex unions as marriage.
However, the largest Swedenborgian denomination in North America, the
General Church of the New Jerusalem, does not ordain gay and lesbian
ministers, but the oldest denomination, the Swedenborgian Church of North
America, does.
On a general note, the world is tempted by confusing presentations of
sexuality, marriage and the family. As it is, families are now threatened by
growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of
marriage.
There have been mixed reactions from all over the world ever since the
Supreme court in America legalised the marriage with the same gender. https://www.naij.com/478659-what-8-church-denominations-say-about-same-sex-marriage.html

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says there was massive looting
of the commonwealth during the administration of former President
Goodluck Jonathan.
The Governor said while he was in no position to determine if the former
President was personally guilty, or if he acquiesced to the looting, but as
President, he must take responsibility for what happened under his watch.
Jonathan and
Oshiomhole
Jonathan and Oshiomhole
In an interview with Sahara Reporters TV in Washington DC, Governor
Oshiomhole also said although he had raised many questions on the
tenure of the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the
Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, he has nothing personal against her.
He said: “what is obvious is that so much money was diverted and
unaccounted for from government treasury. Not just from excess crude
account, but also from other agencies of government. The numbers are
huge.
For example, NNPC reports that they earned about N8 trillion within three
to four years and over the same period, they claimed they spent N3.5
trillion and paid to the federation account about N4.1 trillion.
So the cost of running NNPC was as much as the cost of running the
federation, both the Federal, State and local governments. So that tells you
the amount of primitive stealing that went on. The numbers are mind-
boggling. So when we talk of Excess crude, that is just one element.”
He said his grouse with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was that as Coordinating
Minister of the Economy, so much sleaze and malfeasance went on under
her watch without raising an alarm, saying “she has to come clean. Having
accepted the role of the Coordinating Minister, so many things went wrong
with the Nigerian economy even to the extent that for the first time in our
history, even the Federal Government could not pay salary, they had to
borrow. The pension scheme has been drawn down, the social purpose of
the pension scheme has now been defeated.
“So first of all we are saying, accept responsibility that you failed to
manage the economy properly. Two, you never gave in even when we
argued that the economy was in distress she was on record as always
saying no, the economy was fine, the economy was strong, we are the
largest economy on the continent. Of course, people are not fooled, just
revaluing your assets and playing with the numbers. What has changed in
the quality of life of the people? You have rebased the economy, have you
rebased the quality of life? You haven’t!
“If you claim to have the largest economy, you can’t also plead insolvency
at the same time. What we are simply asking her to do is to open the
whole book. What the council has asked us to do is, the Committee of Four
Governors is to just look at this excess crude thing, and show what went
in, who took what, when and who authorized it. So at least we have a
basis to start. But I think, going forward, we will need a forensic audit by
competent auditors to look at the books so that the whole truth can be
known even if we can’t retrieve some of the money but I believe a lot can
be retrieved and it is good that we have a basis to identify who is
responsible and who to be blamed.
“I think people need to recognize that from my own background, I am never
intimidated. As a labor leader, I questioned authority, I interrogated power
and the fact of being in government doesn’t give me much comfort as to
be indifferent about gross abuse of power and criminal diversion of funds.
What should I hate her for? What for? I am not a federal official, I am as
privileged as any other governor but I am troubled by people saying one
thing in the afternoon and doing another at night.
“People should ask the question, how come each time the issue of
corruption and abuse or diversion of funds was raised, Minister Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala was the first to defend rather than show concern and have
open mind. You remember when the CBN Governor whom you can’t
dismiss talked about huge billions of dollars diverted, Ngozi was quick to
say no, it is not $20billion, it is only $10.8 billion.
“Even that was offensive to good conscience and then later she said we
are going to do forensic audit, NNPC books have not been audited. How
could she preside over an economy in which the main player such as
NNPC was not, as a matter of course, carrying out annual audit? Why
should that happen under her watch? A lot of funds accruing to
institutions like NIMASA were diverted. Why should that happen under her
watch? Contracts were awarded without any bidding.
“If people say there was too much corruption in Nigeria, who was presiding
over the economy? She is not on record as having raised any alarm on
abuse of office. So there is nothing personal about it. If anything I
consider her a friend but she knows that my friendship is subordinated to
the bigger national interest. What do I stand to gain? I could as well play
along, keep quiet, be a good guy but I will rather be a good guy to my
conscience, not to any body’s face.
“So the truth is, she should answer the questions. She was reported to
have said that because she didn’t approve the loan the Governor wanted to
take to pay contractors and I said very good, I wanted to borrow money to
pay contractors, not to pay workers but she was borrowing money to pay
salaries but I have never borrowed money to pay salaries, I am up-to-date
with the payment of salaries.
“So I am not grumbling because I am frustrated, I am making a point
because that is the truth. She is not entitled to claim an honor that she
doesn’t deserve in the face of these huge numbers that cannot be
accounted for. I believe the President is quietly doing some works to
determine what went wrong in the rot that he inherited, to determine who
is responsible for what.
“When these numbers begin to come out, I will expect the minister to
explain how she can claim to have been a successful Coordinating
Minister of the Economy yet the economy suffered so much bleeding and
diversion of funds.
“Here in Washington, everybody is talking about billions of dollars of
Nigeria crude money that was taken. How could you supervise an
economy, you are cooking the soup, the elephant leg is being stolen and
you didn’t raise an alarm. People raised an alarm and you shut them up.
So I think Nigerians should move away from sentiments. I have even heard
people saying it is ethnic issues. It is the typical Nigerian issue when a
public officer has no explanation, he seeks escape route by bringing in
sentiments of ethnicity and religion.
“For people like me, that doesn’t disturb me at all. I am a union man, I
have always interrogated power and when I was in the NLC, I challenged
some of our policies. So she knows where I stand. I would rather be
known for something that be known for nothing.
“On the issue of PMB decision to probe the immediate past administration
of GEJ, Oshiomhole said, “I don’t think probe is the right word. For a
President whose major campaign was hinged on ‘if we don’t kill
corruption, corruption will kill us’, it is only natural that he recovers what
was stolen and I think it is only patriotic that we do that.
“More also when you inherited huge debts and you will be devoting huge
resources to service those debts. If we recovered money from Abacha
government even after his death, why should anybody ask questions if
indeed he should probe.
“I don’t think it is about probing. Probe means investigating what is not
obvious but when you can see a thief stealing and you can arrest him, ask
him and recover what has been stolen, that is not probe. Probe is like
finding what is not clear, it is so clear that so much money was diverted
even we were told we are losing 400 thousand barrels a day. How can that
happen? Yes we have always had issues of illegal bunkering but then you
talk of 10 thousand or 20 thousand barrels. How can anybody explain
400,000 barrels consistently for 2, 3 consecutive years and incidentally,
this is the time that the government gave out contracts to people to
protect the pipelines and huge sums of money was paid. So you are asking
yourself, how come during the previous government under Yar’Adua, even
at the peak of militancy, we didn’t suffer this huge demurrage.
“I think it is not about choice for President Buhari whether or not to
recover what has been taken. I think he is obliged to do it in the national
interest. I don’t see how he can shy away from it because it is like seeing
something stolen from your household and you refuse to recover it; you
can see the thief, and sometimes you even can see the stolen goods.
“A lot of stealing went on under President Goodluck Jonathan’s watch,
there is no question about that but as for his own personal level of guilt, it
is not for me to say. But every President, just like every Governor or Local
Government Chairman must accept responsibility for whatever happened
under his watch. Leadership is about responsibility ".
source : http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/there-was-primitive-looting-under-jonathan-oshiomhole/

s > 2015 University Web Rankings: Africa Top 100 Colleges and Universities in Africa by University Web Ranking. Link to it ♥ 2015 UNIVERSITY WEB RANKINGS | AFRICA Top 100 Universities and Colleges in Africa Top 100 Universities and Colleges in Africa by the 4icu.org University Web Ranking 1 University of Cape Town South Africa 2 University of Pretoria South Africa 3 Universiteit Stellenbosch South Africa 4 University of the Witwatersrand South Africa 5 University of South Africa South Africa 6 The American University in Cairo Egypt 7 Cairo University Egypt 8 Mansoura University Egypt 9 Alexandria University Egypt 10 University of Dar es Salaam Tanzania 11 University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 12 Rhodes University South Africa 13 Ain Shams University Egypt 14 Assiut University Egypt 15 University of the Western Cape South Africa 16 Université Mohammed V - Agdal Morocco 17 University of Johannesburg South Africa 18 Université de Ouagadougou Burkina Faso 19 University of Nairobi Kenya 20 University of Lagos Nigeria 21 Makerere University Uganda 22 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa 23 Obafemi Awolowo University Nigeria 24 University of Ghana Ghana 25 Universidade Eduardo Mondlane Mozambique 26 Misurata University Libya 27 The German University in Cairo Egypt 28 North-West University South Africa 29 Benha University Egypt 30 Zagazig University Egypt 31 Université de la Reunion Reunion 32 University of Botswana Botswana 33 Al Akhawayn University Morocco 34 University of Namibia Namibia 35 Université Abou Bekr Belkaid Tlemcen Algeria 36 Université Cheikh Anta Diop Senegal 37 University of Khartoum Sudan 38 University of Ibadan Nigeria 39 Helwan University Egypt 40 Sudan University of Science and Technology Sudan 41 University of Ilorin Nigeria 42 Université Mentouri de Constantine Algeria 43 Covenant University Nigeria 44 Université Mouloud Maameri de Tizi Ouzou Algeria 45 University of Swaziland Swaziland 46 Université de Batna Algeria 47 Université d'Alger Algeria 48 University of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 49 Université Mohammed V - Souissi Morocco 50 South Valley University Egypt 51 Tanta University Egypt 52 Moi University Kenya 53 Université Kasdi Merbah de Ouargla Algeria 54 Université Abdelmalek Essadi Morocco 55 Minoufiya University Egypt 56 Université Cadi Ayyad Morocco 57 Federal University of Technology, Minna Nigeria 58 Minia University Egypt 59 University of Zambia Zambia 60 Université d'Oran Algeria 61 Addis Ababa University Ethiopia 62 Université Djillali Liabes Algeria 63 Université Abdelhamid Ibn Badis Mostaganem Algeria 64 Al-Azhar University Egypt 65 Kenyatta University Kenya 66 Université Hassan II - Casablanca Morocco 67 Suez Canal University Egypt 68 Kafr el-Sheikh University Egypt 69 Universiteit van die Vrystaat South Africa 70 Cape Peninsula University of Technology South Africa 71 Université M'hamed Bouguerra de Boumerdes Algeria 72 Université Ibn Tofail Morocco 73 Université Hassan II Mohammedia - Casablanca Morocco 74 University of Nigeria Nigeria 75 Université d'Antananarivo Madagascar 76 University of Malawi Malawi 77 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Ghana 78 Universidade de Cabo Verde Cape Verde 79 Polytechnic of Namibia Namibia 80 Tshwane University of Technology South Africa 81 University of Benin Nigeria 82 Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediène Algeria 83 Mbarara University of Science & Technology Uganda 84 Strathmore University Kenya 85 University of Port Harcourt Nigeria 86 Ahmadu Bello University Nigeria 87 Al Jabal Al Gharbi University Libya 88 University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Nigeria 89 Université Mohamed Khider de Biskra Algeria 90 University of Shendi Sudan 91 University of Mauritius Mauritius 92 Durban University of Technology South Africa 93 Université de Tunis El Manar Tunisia 94 Université de la Manouba Tunisia 95 Landmark University Nigeria 96 Fayoum University Egypt 97 Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Kenya 98 Vaal University of Technology South Africa 99 Université Ferhat Abbas Sétif Algeria 100 Université Hassiba Ben Bouali de Chlef Algeria

by Xavier9ja(m): 1:57pm
osho baba is a great man BT
before he criticise he shud
remember the go-and-die widow
case.
Frm yr post it shows u were nt in benin wen those tins happnd,bt only heard d pdp cut version. I ws in benin,and on d full tape and d woman's own word's later, Oshiomole said why shud dis women cntinu selling on express road even byond d walk way and risking deir lives,bt d woman kept saying she ws a widow. Oshiomole ''so bcus u re a widow u shud risk yr life an die on d road? no, go an die in yr house''. Both later reconciled as individuals. Edo didnt give a shirt abt pdp version cus dey new d truth. And pdp cudn't use it 4 campaign cus it didn't sell.

PDP has destroyed Nigeria’s
economy – Oshiomhole
on February 25, 2015 / in News
12:56 pm / Comments
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of
Edo State says the Peoples
Democratic Party-led Federal
Government has destroyed the
nation’s economy.
Speaking to a coalition of women
from across the 18 Local
Government areas of the state,
led by Chief Evelyn Igbafe, who
paid him a solidarity visit,
Tuesday, Oshiomhole said, “PDP
has mismanaged the economy.
You can all see that you need
about N220 now to buy $1.
When PDP took over power in
1999, $1 was between N60 and
N65.
“They have destroyed the
economy. After 16 years PDP
cannot give light to Edo people
and upon the darkness, they are
using their might to collect what
they call fixed charges from very
poor people and because there is
no light, the woman that has to
grind pepper has to buy a
generator; because there is no
light, the woman that grinds
cassava has to buy a generator;
because there is no light, the
woman who has to sell articles at
night has to buy a generator.
Oshiomhole said, “I like what the
Benin leaders are saying. We
cannot say this is what we have
gained from the PDP and
because we are working, they
are very afraid. When I see the
PDP Chairman of the State
wearing multiple colors and
talking and spend all his time
abusing Oshiomhole, but fails to
spend some minutes to say what
the PDP has done in 10 years, I
laugh.
“When you are going now, pass
through the Central Hospital to
see the beautiful work that is
being done there. This is what is
giving the PDP sleepless nights
because all the evil plans they
had against that hospital did not
work. Before APC came, PDP
asked students to pay school
fees. We have stopped all of that.
If you have two three children in
school and you do not pay school
fees for any of them, is that not
extra savings? Under PDP, they
were paying for schools that
didn’t have roofs and chairs.”
Oshiomhole continued, “So when
they are trying to divert attention
from the main issues, you should
checkmate them. Now over the
few weeks, when the PDP is not
able to pay salaries in some state,
we have started working on
Queen Ede Erosion site, we have
flagged off construction of 2nd
East Circular road, we are
working on another erosion site
in Ekenhuan road, we are
repairing Ihama Road and other
roads in the G.R.A. as well as St
Savior Road, Uwasota, Auchi
Erosion Site and many others.
“There are still many things to be
done because the damages done
by PDP in ten years cannot be
repaired in six years. I want to
promise you that we will
continue to do our best.”
On his re-appointment of Prince
Ehioze Erediauwa as a member
of Edo Stat Oil and Gas Producing
Areas Development Commission,
Oshiomhole said, “I have enjoyed
uncommon generosity from His
Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin in
terms of support, advice and
prayers. He has been and will
continue to be father of every
Edo man and that has been
demonstrated in the way he is
admired across the shores of the
nation.
“Let me use this opportunity to
say that the appointment that we
made to EDSOGPADEC was all
based on merit. The one of
Ehioze Erediauwa was not an
exception. He was appointed and
reappointed because when you
have done well you are entitled
to move on to the second level.
He was a member of the board
for the first time and I promised
the Royal Majesty that given his
outstanding performance as a
member of the commission that
when we are reconstituting, we
will reappoint him because he
has done well.
“For me all those who have what
it takes to contribute to the
progress of the state should be
given such an opportunity. It is
more also for someone like me
who has enjoyed uncommon
generosity from his royal majesty
in terms of support, in terms of
prayers, in terms of advice, he
has been and will continue to be
the father of every Edo man and
woman and that he has
demonstrated admirably”, he
said.
Earlier the leader of the women
coalition, Chief Evelyn Igbafe said
they were in Government House
to thank the governor for the re-
appointment of Prince Ehioze
Erediauwa, and assured the
Governor of their continued
support always.
They urged the Governor not to
be distracted by the antics of the Edo PDP.

Gej promised and even signed an aggrement to run 4 just 1 term,to make power supply-not d lies about generation-constant,to end BH,etc.he didnt fufill any,he said ''he just wanted to win his election'' then.Now he has said he implement the NC-wish he doesnt have d power to-only fool will believe him

Jonathan begs aggrieved PDP
Reps
on february 23, 2015 at 9:00 pm
in news
Facebook Share Twitter Share
By Emman Ovuakporie
ABUJA – PRESIDENT Goodluck
Jonathan begs aggrieved Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP members
of the House of Representatives
to sheath their swords and work
for him in the forthcoming
general elections.
Vanguard reliably gathered that
the president made the appeal
when the aggrieved lawmakers
met with him at the presidential
Villa on Sunday night.
A source privy to the
development said”the lawmakers
bared their minds to the
president telling him how the
PDP secretariat virtually sold
tickets to the highest bidders.
President Jonathan
A particular lawmaker from the
south south who wanted to
become a governor narrated
how he was swindled of
N1billion by some PDP stalwarts
at the secretariat.
He however said, “thank God the
Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC has retrieved
about N500million from the party
men who swindled him”.
Other lawmakers had
complained of unfair treatment
by their various party chieftains
who ensured that there was no
level playing ground rather the
highest bidders had their way.

[Ad] m.godlife.com/
We Want Electricity, Not Power
on february 24, 2015 at 4:26 am
in editorial
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PERHAPS, if we called the Minister
of Power the Minister of
Electricity, we would have been
speaking the same language
about the poor state of electricity
supply. The Minister speaks
about “power generation”, we
are interested in “electricity
supply” to places we need them.
The distinction is very important
and could lead to
misunderstanding of the
challenges we have with
electricity. Generation calculated
in megawatts has been
governments’ ways, for years, of
creating vain hope about
improvements in electricity. We
all know better, except those
who believe that once the
promises are made they have
done their work.
It is nothing new. Each
government out performs ones
before it by promising more
power generation. In most cases
it knows that the volume of
power generated means nothing
if the facilities to transmit and
distribute it are unavailable.
Often, the facilities are not
available, meaning that more
power generation creates extra
challenges for the out-dated
transmission and distribution
lines. Chances are high that the
electricity so generated could be
wasted. No magic, except
improvement of the transmission
and distribution facilities, can
change the situation.
Does the government not know
these? Why does it keep
deceiving the people about its
new abilities to generate more
power when the facilities cannot
get the power to users? What
does additional generation mean
if it would not improve supply?
Does government understanding
of the movements that have
resulted in DISCOs (distribution
companies) and GENCOs
(generation companies) include
that Nigerians would have
electricity at points they want
them?
Every announcement of new
generating facilities, promises of
more transmission lines, creation
of DISCOs and GENCOs raise the
expectations of Nigerians.
Instead their fate has been new
tariffs (always) higher and
monthly meter maintenance
charges (N750), which they must
pay, with or without electricity.
President Goodluck Jonathan
tepidly captured the
consequences of poor electricity
supply thus, while commission a
new line at the Egbin power
facility, “Small and medium
enterprises cannot thrive if
owners of such businesses are
left to generate their own
electricity. Egbin power facility
presents a vision of our drive to
give stable power supply to
Nigerians.” Are we supposed to
applaud this new found
wisdom? Enterprises would not
survive, not to talk of thriving
without stable electricity supply,
which affects industries, not
minding their sizes, homes and
governments.
Professor Chinedu Nebo, Minister
of Power, at the event, promised
10,000MW by 2016; and,
12,500MW by 2017. When would
these megawatts get to users?
Nigerians have never been
interested in what is generated,
but improved electricity for their
use.
It insults their sensibilities that at
times of worsening supplies, all
they hear are applauses about
increased power generation.

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upation that confers
respectability on the field of astrology. But,
even everyday people have the right to
predict the scale of the dark storm hovering
over Nigeria’s economy as the oil price
continues its free summersaults. Such is the
dire situation of a country whose finances
depend mostly on a mono-product – crude
oil.
When oil price stood above the $79 per
barrel benchmark used in estimating the
2013 budget, the Nigerian government had
to resort to borrowing (N744billion) to meet
her capital expenditure obligations due to
revenue shortfall. At the moment, oil price
hangs around $61 a barrel (below the
benchmark price of $65 per barrel), and the
market threat to drag prices even lower is
stronger than we have ever known. What
will 2015 hold for Nigeria’s finances?
Where’s the austerity?
The 2015 Budget Appropriation Bill as
presented to the National Assembly on
December 18, 2014 contradicts the basic
economic definition of austerity. If the
common man is a priority in government’s
strategy, the sharp dip in the capital
expenditure negates that notion. Austerity
describes policies used to tighten
government expenditure, close loopholes
that cause revenue losses and a gross
reduction of budget deficits during adverse
economic conditions. However, from the
recent steps taken, Nigeria is simply
prioritizing government staffing and wage
bills, as against the overall health of the
economy.
From Table 1 below, based on BudgIT’s
analysis, recurrent expenditure (salaries,
overheads, statutory transfers and debt
service costs) totaled N3.97trillion, which is
an unbelievable 91% of the entire 2015
budget proposal. Our analysis treats subsidy
for reinvestment and empowerment
programme (SURE-P) as an externality to
the aggregate budget, because except the oil
price rises, the landing cost of fuel will still
be low, leaving too little savings for SURE-
P. Typically, this is to say that the aggregate
budget as presented currently is to keep
government running – nothing more.
While presenting the budget, Minister of
Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, subtly
micromanaged the flaws in the 2015
Appropriation Bill, announcing to the world
that Nigeria will be running a capital
budget of N634billion, leaving Nigerians
with the impression that the capital
expenditure figure is inclusive of SURE-P.
If the total recurrent expenditure of
N3.97trillion (as placed in Table1 above) is
removed from the aggregate budget
expenditure of N4.358trillion, then “the
common man’s priority ” – the capital
expenditure – will come down to a paltry
N387billion, a mere 9% of the budget.
Comparing the 2015 capital vote of
N387billion to N1.119trillion provision in
2014, the stark difference is very
frightening. This corroborates BudgIT’s
recent policy paper, which asserted that
capital expenditure would be under severe
threat in an era of declining oil prices.
To actually show that government is not
applying any cuts, note that statutory
transfers to public institutions, such as
National Assembly, National Judicial
Council, Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), etc. go up from
N408.69billion (2014) to N411.84billion
(2015 proposed), notoriously higher than
the Capital budget (N387billion) in a
country with a gross infrastructure deficit?
The Debt Trap
Nigeria has also been subtly accumulating
debts in recent times, with domestic debt
rising from N4.55trillion in 2010 to
N7.65trillion as at September 2014. It is
very alarming to see debt servicing fees rise
from N828billion in 2013 to N943billion in
2015, an equivalent of 22% of the aggregate
expenditure.
Key questions requiring pertinent answers
from our budget managers. Why will
personnel costs increase from N1.77trillion
(2014) to N1.84trillion (2015)? Is the
government planning a massive recruitment
drive in an austerity year? Or is this being
brought on by the proposed elections in
2015?
One thing for sure is that part of the
recurrent component of the 2015
Appropriation Bill will be funded with debt.
The budget deficit, which should mainly
finance capital projects in line with the
provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act
(FRA) is higher than the capital expenditure
budget. This means, as presented, the
executive is seeking approval from the NASS
to borrow N387billion to finance the entire
capital budget and the remaining balance
(N368billion) of the proposed deficit will be
spent on recurrent items.
The government is also planning to draw
down N80billion from the excess crude
account (ECA), which is only possible if the
oil price rises above $65 per barrel oil
benchmark proposed in the budget.
In other words, if oil prices stay below $65
per barrel, there will be more borrowing. If
the volume of crude oil sold falls short of
targets, more borrowing. If the overly
optimistic non-oil revenue generation
target, which the government has failed to
raise successively, falls short, government’s
borrowing spree will continue to meets its
obligations.
What if oil prices stay below $50; how does
the government intend to survive, including
the states and local governments, most of
which are already struggling to meet their
obligations to workers and people in their
various domains? Our reforms are therefore
long overdue.
Borrowing and budgeting are not strange
bedfellows. Nigeria over the years
consistently failed to meet revenue targets,
even when crude oil stayed above set
benchmark price.
In 2013, oil revenue actual receipts for the
federal government totaled N1.99trillion, as
against N2.35trillion projected in that
year’s budget, despite oil prices staying
above average $100 per barrel against the
$79 per barrel benchmark.
Non-oil revenue, including independent
revenue form government agencies, was
actually N1.07billion in 2013, as against
N1.48trillion proposed in the budget for
2013. The shortfalls have always been
financed by borrowing, or deferred capital
spending. Therefore, even at a N1.68trillion
non-revenue target for 2015 budget, Nigeria
has set the bar high for massive borrowing
during the year.
Non-Oil Revenue Assumptions
The spirit of the budget in terms of non-oil
revenue growth is good. But how can a 10%
import surcharge on new private jets, a 39%
import surcharge on luxury yachts, a 5%
import surcharge on luxury cars and a 3%
luxury surcharge on champagnes, wines &
spirits solve decades-old problems in its
first effectual year?
Even then, is there any guarantee that this
target will be met? How effective would
these be? What core rationale would drive
tax collection under the Federal Inland
Revenue Service (FIRS)/McKinsey initiative,
which expects to generate N160billion to
shore up Nigeria’s coffers in 2015? What
will become of government revenue from
Customs and Excise duties when the
Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) common external tariffs (CET)
comes into force in 2015? Is the government
Appropriation Bill using its impact study of
the ECOWAS CET to project revenue
streams?
Source: BudgIT, Ministry of Finance, Center
for Social Justice
Based on documented presentations/
speeches, Nigeria will spend N20billion
(N16billion already earmarked in 2014
budget) to create a Development Finance
Institution (DFI), described as “a wholesale
financial institution that will support our
private sector, especially small and medium
enterprises (SMEs), to access more
affordable financing with longer tenure.”
Intervention programmes as stated include
the Presidential Initiative for the North East
Security (PINES) increased from N2 billion
to N5 billion, social safety nets are expected
to reach three million households in 10
years, and the transfer of 2,400 children
from high-risk areas for the full
implementation of the Safe Schools
Initiative (SSI).
The solutions needed in these dire times are
pretty obvious. Government itself needs to
take on more austerity measures. The
National Assembly must put a minimum of
N50 billion from its allocation on the table
of poor Nigerians as a starting point to
creating tangible change. Independent
revenue agencies need to double up their
efforts. The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)
bill must be given accelerated attention and
passage, to mention just a few things that
must happen to enable our mono-product
economy weather the volatility of oil prices.
It is time for the reforms that we have left
too late.
Should reforms and austerity measures not
take hold quickly, Nigeria will be left at the
mercies of another miracle. A fervent
prayer that the crude oil price hits a new
ceiling. A safe haven that may or may
never come. A ceiling that is the playground
of world economic powers – Saudi, U.S.,
Russia – with Nigeria left feeling like the
grass trodden underfoot by big elephants.
For the 2015 Budget to adequately oil the
machinery of governance and Nigeria’s
economy calls for a miracle, as estimates
on the revenue end are overly optimistic.
We have recurrent receipts which must be
paid, as well as pressing capital expenditure
obligations to citizens. Interesting times
indeed lie ahead. Let’s pray for miracles.
Nigerians need it now.
*BudgIT is an online analytics agency on
public finance
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