President Muhammadu Buhari has been implored to use proceeds from the Police Trust Fund bill recently signed into law to address the insecurity facing the masses in the country.
The Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Dr. Christian Ekong making the call while addressing the 40th Regular Council of the church held at its headquarters in Obot Idim Ibesikpo, Akwa Ibom State at the weekend said, the President should also use the legislation for better funding and equipping of the Nigerian Police Force.
While hailing Buhari for giving assent to the bill, he, however, urged the Federal Government to immediately intervene on the construction of deplorable federal roads across the country.
The clergyman used the occasion to announce the handing over of Immanuel Lutheran Hospital, Yahe by the Cross River State government to the church, commending the government for the gesture.
Interacting with newsmen at the end of the Regular Council, Most Rev. Ekong expressed joy that there were remarkable improvements from previous sessions of the council as evident in the resolutions reached and high expectations for subsequent ones.
The council, which is the highest policy-making the body of the church in 26-point resolutions, adopted the Lutheran church of Nigeria’s Draft Review Constitution for operations of the church effective January 2020.
The resolutions read by the National Secretary of the church, Rev. Godwin Eshiet endorsed the replacement of the name ‘Zone’ with ‘Diocese’ and further resolved that from next year, every diocese of the church should select a goal or more from the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs for actualization, to cushion the biting effects of economic down turn.
It was also agreed that “Family Day” be celebrated in all congregations of the church towards strengthening family ties, among others.
The Council featured the retirement and thanksgiving service of the Vice President of the church, Bishop Mathew Emmanuel Okata after 40 years of meritorious service, the Word, song ministrations, Presentation and deliberations on audited account and other reports, as well as an exposition on the church’s theme, “Called by Christ to bear fruits”.
In his remarks, Rt. Rev. Okata made thanked God and the church faithful for the honour done to him.
The cleric made a case for the redefinition of the office of the Vice President of the church to enhance relevance for quality service delivery as well as the need to consider the welfare of retired ministers of the church and the utilization of their talents to further the Gospel of Christ.
The chairman, planning Committee of the Regular Council, Elder Effiong Essien who is also Head of Akwa Ibom Civil Service scored the delegates’ participation in the deliberations high and also thanked the retiring Vice President for being a source of blessing to humanity.
