The Nation Newspaper

Tag: signature

  • Ecumenical Centre:  Governor Dickson’s signature of spiritual rebirth

    Like King Solomon who built the Temple of Jerusalem, not only has Governor Seriake Dickson built a befitting place of worship, he has re-dedicated Bayelsa State to God.

    Ecumenism is a religious movement that seeks to unite all Christians and bring the various denominations together in mutual cooperation.

    The ecumenical vision consists of the search for the visible unity of the Church and the “whole inhabited earth” (Matthew 24:14) as the concern of all Christians.

    Since Dickson assumed office, he has left no one in doubt that God is the foundation of the Restoration Administration. The Restoration administration started off with a praise night on every last Sunday of the months.

    Being a lover of God, no day passes without a prayer session conducted at the seat of power. Because of the love of the things of God, several appointments were given to religious people to strengthen the worship of God.

    The governor built a worship place in his home town – the palace of Melchizedek. He has supported religious activities of any description, donating to churches, promoting church programmes and endeavours.

    The crowning glory of these efforts was the building of the first-of its kind ecumenical centre at Igbogene in Yenagoa Bayelsa State.

    Let it be remembered that at creation, Bayelsa State was dedicated to God and given a baptismal name called the glory of all lands. When the Restoration Administration came on board, Bayelsa State was fondly called the “Jerusalem of the Ijaw Nation”.

    It is against this background that Bayelsa State has established an eternal pact with God. This is a pact of peace, divine protection and the blossoming of God’s grace upon Bayelsa State.

    The mundane symbolism of the ecumenical centre is that it provides a platform for all Churches, irrespective of denominations to carry out religious activities such as conventions, congregational worships and Christian retreats.

    Apart from the aesthetic beauty of the edifice, it also encourages religious studies and unity of the Church. Its spiritual symbolism lies in the fact that in the centre, all Ijaws are yoked together in one bundle of life.

    The ecumenical centre serves as a centre of unity in the Ijaw nation.  Like Emperor Constantine of the glorious Roman Empire who popularised monotheism, the ecumenical Centre is Governor Dickson’s eternal signature for spiritual rebirth.

    The ecumenical centre, which could seat about 15,000 persons, epitomises a renewed spiritual consciousness in Bayelsa State, bridging as it were the doctrinal gap between churches.

    It demonstrates our unity in the body of Christ and increases the redemptive value of Jesus Christ. More importantly, the ecumenical Centre was built in recognition of the fact that it reinforces our belief in the oneness of Christianity irrespective of denominations, doctrines or creed.

    By all standards, Governor Seriake Dickson is indeed a God fearing leader, who has reaffirmed our faith in God. True, God is too big to dwell in a house made by man because of his omnipresence quality but this centre, which Dickson has built to honour God shall stand as an everlasting testimony to the fact that the hearts of Kings and rulers are in the hands of God.  It is our fervent prayer that God Almighty honours the builder of this edifice.

    Verily, Bayelsa State is safe in the hands of the Restoration Administration.

    John, a student of comparative religion, writes from Akenfa, Yenagoa

  • Health workers await minister’s signature to suspend strike

    Health workers await minister’s signature to suspend strike

    Health workers on strike may be waiting for the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole to sign the memorandum of settlement entered into on Saturday, between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Joint Health Sector Unions before asking their members to suspend action and return to work.

    The leadership of the striking workers had told reporters after their meeting with the government on Saturday night that they were suspending their strike action in principle, pending the outcome of the meeting of their National Executive Council scheduled to hold t6omorrow.

    However, Chairman of JOHESU Biobelomoye Joy Josiah told a news conference yesterday that they were suspending the strike action in principle because “there are certain things we expect the government to do between now and Tuesday and once that is done, the strike will be officially called off and our members will be directed to resume work immediately”.

    Although Josiah did not mention what they expect the government to do, The Nation was informed by sources at the meeting that the workers are afraid that if the Minister of Health failed to sign the agreement, it may become invalid and not implementable.

  • Iyanya jets to Europe for Signature EP Tour

    Iyanya jets to Europe for Signature EP Tour

    Mavin Records singer, Iyanya is set to bring his Signature EP tour to a close with an international tour round major European Cities.

    Among the cities the singer has been booked to perform are Frankfurt, Stockholm, Napoli, Munich, Helsinki, Rome, Zurich, Oslo and Paris.

    The successful Signature tour has taken the singer to cities within and outside Nigeria such as Abuja, Calabar, Nairobi, Kampala, New York and London among others.

    The artiste travelled out of the country last week.

    “I am excited to be back again to connect with my fans in the Diaspora,” Iyanya said, revealing his happiness to embark on the tour.

    “I am looking forward to a magical experience, no more, no less.”

    The tour is packaged by Temple Management Company and Europe-based Henry Emehel Events.

    Iyanya launched into a successful music career when he won MTN Project Fame West Africa in 2008. With three albums to his credit, he released an EP, entitled Signature early in the year with popular tracks such as Up 2 Somtin, Hold On and Bow For You among others.

  • CBN unveils portal for signature verification

    CBN unveils portal for signature verification

    •Apex Bank defends N65 ATM fee

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has developed an online signature portal for banks.

    The process and upload of the authorised signatories to the portal should be completed on or before August 29.

    CBN Director, Banking & Payments System Department, ‘Dipo Fatoku, said the policy is in furtherance of its effort in the development of safe, reliable and efficient payments and in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, developed an industry portal for the verification of authorised signatories in the banking system.

    He said in a circular to banks and other stakeholders that the portal is expected to replace the printed signature booklets that banks distribute such that instructions/documents received from other banks can be verified electronically (online).

    The portal will be used by banks, registrars, insurance firms, embassies and any other user of the printed signature booklets, to avoid fabrication of letters as coming from the banks.

    The portal is meant to digitise the booklet and also ensure that updates can be made quickly, as staff change functions or move to other institutions.

    Fatokun said banks are to contact Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) for the needed training and access rights to the portal, amongst others.

    Also, the CBN said cash withdrawal at the ATMs of a customer’s bank is free. It said a ‘’Remote-on-us’’ transaction is when a card holder goes to the ATM machine of another bank other than his or her bank to make a withdrawal.

    It explained that in 2012, the CBN, in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, transferred the payment of N100 fee on ‘’Remote-on-us’’ ATM cash withdrawal transactions to issuing banks adding that N100 was never removed.

    The fee, it said, was only transferred to customer’s bank to pay, and this was intended to encourage/promote the use of ATMs nationwide.

    However, having sufficiently raised customers awareness, the first three ‘’Remote-on-us’’ transactions in a month are free for the card holder but paid for by the issuing bank.

    “The N65 charge only applies when a customer withdraws cash from another bank’s ATM other than that of his/her bank. The N65 starts to apply from the fourth transaction at another banks’ ATM in a month. The charge is not intended to discourage financial inclusion as the apex bank will not endorse any anti-customer policy,” it said. The CBN said charging of fees on interbank networks is a widely acceptable practice globally.

    The CBN said the new fee will ensure customers get better services, increase healthy competition among the banks even as transaction volumes at other banks’ ATM have increased astronomically due to the free Cash withdrawal at other banks’ ATM. The wear and tear as well as the frequency of servicing the ATMs has increased significantly.