The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abia State has reacted to the newly imposed tax on church signposts in the state.

The association made its position known on Tuesday via a letter titled “Taxation of Church Signposts in Abia State”.

In the statement, signed by the State CAN chairman, Rev. Ojo Ojo Uduma, and the State CAN secretary, Rev. Dr. Francis E. Okere, CAN revealed that Abia State is the only state in the whole of Nigeria that is taxing churches on their signposts.

CAN described the move as a regrettable one especially as the state is known as a Christian state having earned the name God’s own state.

The body called for the immediate reversal of the policy by the government to save the state from having an anti-Church reputation.

The letter read: “We write to express our displeasure over the state government policy of compelling churches to be paying taxes on their signposts.

“As a Christian and God’s own state, it is regrettable that Abia State is the only state in the whole federation that is taxing churches on their signposts.

“We therefore passionately plead with your Excellency as a matter of urgency to carefully look into this matter and possibly rescind the policy to avoid compelling the body of Christ in the state from seeing the regime as anti-Church.

CAN proposed a roundtable discussion with the government to figure out the way forward on the issue.

“Furthermore, leaders of the Christian body in the state can be invited for a roundtable discussion on the way forward over this very little but delicate issue.

“While looking forward to your favourable response, accept our esteemed assurances of our unalloyed support and prayers,” the statement concluded.

Beggars in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, may need to start looking for other means of survival as Minister Nyesom Wike has vowed to end street begging in the city.

The Minister decried the high influx of beggars in the FCT and the embarrassment it brings to the city.

The former Rivers State Governor spoke during the flag-off of the construction of an access road from Ring Road 1 by N16 to the Judges Quarters and internal roads within Judges Quarters in Katampe District on Tuesday, October 22.

Wike, who declared war against insecurity, noted that many beggars in Abuja are not genuine but criminals.

He urged Nigerians to take their relatives off the streets, as such behavior will no longer be tolerated from Monday.

He emphasized the government’s commitment to not just providing infrastructure in the FCT but also ensuring good security for residents and visitors.

He said, “In terms of security, let me say it clearly now. We have declared war. Abuja is returning to a city full of beggars. I mean, if you know you have a sister, or you have a brother who is a beggar on the roads, from next week, we will remove them. We will take them out of the city. It is embarrassing that the first thing people see when they come in are just beggars on the roads. Sometimes, they may not even be beggars. They may be criminals pretending to be beggars. We will not allow that.

“So, I am giving a public order; from now till Sunday is the grace period. From Monday, we will remove them. We want to have a city that we can truly call a city. It is very embarrassing. We are fighting insecurity, and people are carrying plates as if they are beggars; maybe they are informants.

“So please, understand that it is not only infrastructure we are providing. We want to give you good security so you can sleep well with both eyes closed.”

Wike also mentioned the role of the National Assembly in the fight against insecurity in Abuja.

According to him, swift passage of the budget will enable ministers to effectively do their jobs, which is the implementation of the budget.

“I know that some of you may not be happy. Sometimes, we don’t need to make you happy. What is important is that we must do our work. If you are not happy, there is nothing we can do. The security and well-being of the people are key. That is why I have told the National Assembly members that we will do everything required to ensure people know that the National Assembly is doing all it can to support. Their role is to pass the budget on time. Ours is to implement it. I know that by 2025, they will continue to give their full support, because I know they will always stand to approve our budget.”

Wike disclosed that the road project will be ready by May next year, adding that his administration will continue to impact other sectors and will include the Area Councils in the developments.

To prevent the teaching profession from going into extinction in Nigeria, the management of the University of Ilesa, Ilesa, Osun State has declared its undergraduate Education programmes tuition-free to boost enrollment.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, disclosed that enrollment into Education courses has been very poor, stressing the need to revive the critical sector from total collapse.

He also revealed how the authority is striving to ensure that students of the institution make a difference in the larger society by driving expected changes and contributing to feeding the populace.

Asaolu disclosed that the University commissioned the Model Integrated Teaching and Research Farm where students are equipped and trained on livestock management and other agricultural programmes, stressing that no student of the institution would graduate without participating in the entrepreneurship development for the better good of themselves and their extended societies.

He made this known on Monday during a media engagement on how far the school has fared in the last 18 months of its official take-off on the campus.

The VC who reeled out the giant strides of the state-owned institution, disclosed that the National University Commission (NUC) has so far approved a total of 67 courses for the university including Law, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Anatomy among others.

With over 2,000 current students, the pioneer VC said the institution has experienced industrial peace and harmony since its establishment and commencement, commending the state governor, Ademola Adeleke for funding the university and prioritising the welfare of staff.

Asaolu disclosed that Governor Adeleke has approved the engagement of 230 temporary staff inherited from the defunct College of Education on permanent basis in the University.

He explained that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) credited the University’s account with a sum of Ninety-Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N98,871,500:00) only as loan disbursement to 247 students of the University and lauded the state governor for encouraging tertiary institutions in Osun State to key into the programme.

“The University, on its part, has also approved tuition scholarship for students studying programmes in the Faculty of Education in the University to encourage increase in enrolment of candidates for the different programmes in education and to prevent the teaching profession from going into extinction. This decision is in conformity with Governor Adeleke’s integral action plan.

“The University doesn’t want the teaching profession to go into extinction. Mind you, this University has offshoot from a College of Education, it is disheartening if courses like Nursing will be recording 150 enrollments, Public Health, 200, and a course like Adult Education will have zero or one.

Not so impressive outing for education and we have the chore of our lecturers in the Faculty of Education and we do not have students for them to teach. So, if you do the cost benefit analysis, it is even better for us to make education tuition free so that the teaching profession will not go into extinction. And at any rate, it goes a long with the vision of Mr Governor.

However, it is just the tuition aspect of the regime of fees which students are expected to pay that is free. When you say free tuition and the student wants to stay in hostel, will the student not pay accomodation, he will pay for sports facilities, and things like that. But tuition from part one to four is free.

While identifying funding as major challenge confronting the institution, Asaolu stated, “Our challenges include lack of perimeter fencing, encroachment by herdsmen, mining on the school land, but the most serious among them is the issue of funding. The governor has been trying, has it not been for the governor, the university would not have made any serious progress.”

He announced that fresh students for the 2024/2025 academic session will resume on 4th November, 2024 while returning students will resume on 11th November, 2024.