Niger Delta
Edo Assembly Passes 2012 Appropriation Bill
The Edo State House of Assembly last Wednesday in Benin passed the Edo 2012 Appropriation Bill of N150.9 billion.
Our correspondent reports that Governor Adams Oshiomhole had in December 2011 presented a budget proposal of N148.87 billion for 2012 to the Edo Assembly for consideration.
The 2012 budget passed by the Edo House of Assembly is N2.1 billion higher than proposed Appropriation Bill presented to the House by the governor.
The 2012 recurrent expenditure is now put at N64.5 billion as against N63.9 billion earlier proposed while the capital expenditure is now N86.4 billion as against N84.9 billion proposed by the governor.
The Chairman House Committee on Appropriation, Mr Peter Aliyu, attributed the increase in the recurrent expenditure to the implementation of the new minimum wage.
He also said that the need to provide for the emolument of professional staff to be recruited in key MDAs also contributed to the increase.
The other sectoral budget proposal allocation includes Education N7.7 billion, Health N3 billion, Agriculture 0.5 billion, and water N695 billion, among others.
The Speaker, Mr Uyigue Igbe, has directed that clean copies be sent to the governor for his accent.
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
