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  • Kaigama to Nigerian leaders: Embrace selflessness

    Kaigama to Nigerian leaders: Embrace selflessness

    The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Reverend Ignatius Kaigama on Sunday urged Nigerian leaders to imbibe the spirit of selflessness as exemplified by Jesus Christ.

    He made the call in his Good Friday message to Nigerians as Christians across the world marked the solemn occasion.

    Archbishop Kaigama also called for collaboration with the Nigerian government to support the less privileged and promote peaceful coexistence among the country’s diverse population.

    “The government should cooperate with us because we are always advocating for peace, unity, and harmonious co-existence,” he said.

    Archbishop Kaigama also emphasized the importance of selfless service, especially among public office holders.

    He said, “We should not serve for personal or economic gain, as some politicians do. Service should be driven by the desire to give. Jesus gave everything, even His life. He went about doing good, and that is the model we should follow, serving without counting the cost.” 

    Read Also: Abuja stampede: Kaigama questions security operatives over arrest of Catholic priest, others 

    Also delivering a Good Friday message, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria and representative of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, Most Reverend Michael Crotty, called on Nigerians to embrace love and seek justice, particularly in the face of insecurity affecting parts of the country.

    Archbishop Crotty prayed for the conversion of those who perpetrate violence and urged citizens to denounce all forms of evil and senseless killings.

    “Anything that is evil in the world is the work of the devil, and we should be very clear about that. But we must also pray for our people, that they may lay down their arms and trust in the Lord in all trials and tribulations,” he stated.

    Archbishop Crotty reflected on the significance of Good Friday, describing it as ‘a day that highlights both sacrifice and hope.’

    “Good Friday commemorates the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross to reconcile humanity with God. While it is a solemn day, it also offers hope, reminding us that even in suffering, Christ is near,” he said.

    He urged Christians to reflect on the suffering of Christ and prepare spiritually for the joy of the resurrection.

    Good Friday, a major observance in the Christian calendar, is marked by fasting, abstinence, passion plays, and the veneration of the Cross, symbolizing the central themes of sacrifice and redemption.

  • Fix Nigeria, Kaigama urges Christians

    Fix Nigeria, Kaigama urges Christians

    Chairman of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, yesterday enjoined well-meaning Nigerians to get involved in task of building the nation.

    He said they shouldn’t sit on the fence but engage in efforts to fix the socio-economic challenges facing the nation.

    Kaigama spoke at the 5th convocation ceremony of Godfrey-Okoye University, an Enugu based Catholic University.

    He said: “The recent turn of events in our country calls for serious action and concern for all of us.

    “We cannot throw our hands and let violence, corruption, ethnocentrism, bad leadership, political recklessness and other vices prevail.

    “Beyond mere talk and analysis, we must be part of the decision-making process of our Nation. Do not sit on the fence. “Be involved. If you have the opportunity, register and vote in the upcoming elections.”

    The Chancellor of the institution commended the speed of progress at the university, saying it is known today as one of the fastest growing private universities in Nigeria.

    The Vice Chancellor of the University, Rev. Prof. Christian Anieke, announced that a total of 324 graduates were part of the 5th convocation ceremony.

    Nine of them, according to him, scored First Class Honours, 126 Second Class Honours (Upper Division), 149 Second Class Honours (Lower Division) and 40 Third Class Honours.

    The Vice Chancellor disclosed the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the Faculty of law of the University.

    He announced the readiness to move the university to its permanent site at Ugwuomu Nike in the next academic session in 2019.

     

     

     

  • TUC hails reversal of planned sales of refineries

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday commended the Federal Government’s decision not to sell the nation’s four refineries.

    Labour leaders from the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) had on Tuesday, reached an agreement with the Federal Government on the refineries.

    “The Federal Government is not selling the nation’s refineries,’’ a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting between the representatives of both parties said in part.

    They agreed that turn-around maintenance would be carried out in the refineries.

    Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the TUC President, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, described the development as a pointer to the fact that the government was listening to constructive criticism.

    “It is the best thing that has happened because there is no way the government can go on and sell the refineries without critical stakeholders’ input.

    “ So, government has done the right thing by rescinding its decision to sell the refineries.

    “We commend the government for heeding calls and advise that it should reverse its decision,’’ he said.

    The labour leader advised all parties in the agreement to ensure that they kept their commitments.

    “An agreement is an agreement; it is expected that when people go into an agreement, it is binding on all parties.

    “ It is expected that whatever agreement was reached at that meeting would be respected and implemented to the letter,’’ he said.

    Kaigama urged employers of labour to always see their employees as partners in progress.

     

  • TUC tasks FG on car manufacturing

    The President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, on Friday urged the Federal Government to create measures that would allow manufacturing and assembling of vehicles in the country.

    Kaigama told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that it was only when vehicles were manufactured or assembled in the country that Nigerians could afford to own vehicles.

    He said that it was time for Nigerians to shun second hand vehicles, popularly called “tokunbo.”

    “It is time for us as a country to shift from using second hand cars in Nigeria to manufactured or assembled cars.

    “I advise the government to ensure that the necessary infrastructure and technology were put in place to meet the peoples’ need,’’ he said.

    He said that the plan to increase the tariff on imported vehicles and the proposed ban on fairly used vehicles were steps in the right direction to rid the streets of the many rickety cars.

    “The idea is a welcome development, but for it to succeed and be sustained, certain things must be put on ground.

    “We must develop and create facilities that will make our assembling plants to function,’’ Kaigama said.

    He expressed regrets that some government policies had kept somersaulting, and that it had made Nigeria to become a dumping ground for second hand and disused items.

    The TUC president said that it would not be good to establish a manufacturing or assembling plant and allow it become dormant like Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO) in Enugu.

    NAN reports that other motor assembling plant that are now moribund in the country are the National Truck Manufacturers, Kano, Leyland Nigeria in Ibadan and Steyr Nigeria in Bauchi.

    The government had on October 3 announced the introduction of a new auto policy.

    The policy is to discourage the importation of cars and encourage local manufacturing of vehicles until it gradually phases out second hand cars.

     

  • Kaigama succeeds Esele as TUC president

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) finally has a new president after a 13-hour election that lasted all night.

    He is Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, a staff of the Ministry of Environment and Urban Development, Taraba State.

    Kaigama is also the National President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN).

    Elders of the congress described the election which was observed by local and international observers as “very free and fair.”

    The election, which started with delegates’ accreditation around 4:00 pm ended at exactly 4:30 am yesterday.

    The contest was between Kaigama and Ogun-born National President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Babatunde Ogun.

    At the end, Kaigama got 356 votes to Ogun’s 314.

    The National President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and other Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Comrade Sunday Salako, is the Deputy President 1.

    President of Construction union, Comrade Augustine Etaifo emerged as Deputy President 2 with 334 votes while President of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSEAEC), Comrade Bede Opara also emerged as Deputy President 3 with 345 votes.