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Church Offering Tears Abuja Catholic Church Apart

Published

3 years ago

April 27, 2021

It is no longer at ease at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Sun City Estate, Galadimawa, Abuja, as offering from church members is already tearing the church of Lord apart.

While it is the responsibility of the Finance Committee of the Church to count the money, the Parish Priest, Fr. Marcel Livinus, has allegedly taken taken over the responsibility the to the reasons best known to him.

A member of the church who pleaded anonymity due said the Parish Priest stopped the church wardens from counting the money undèr the pretext of allowing the Finance Committee committee to take over it duty.

The source said: “The church wardens are like ushers in other churches; they are the ones that collect and count the money. Then they give the record and the money to the finance committee and copy him on the total money collected.

The source said maybe the Parish Priest felt they were stealing the money, but added that since he started counting the money himself, the figures have not really changed, rather the figures are even lower.

She stated: “We were surprised, all of a sudden, he asked us to stop counting the money and no information to the finance council about this and not even the Parish Pastoral Council. He made us feel we are thieves – stealing church money. For crying out loud how much is the money? We are just rendering humanitarian service to the church and God.

“The people counting the money have just been like this. This one just came and changed everything and no one is talking about it as if it is normal. If he is the only one counting, how then can we know what comes in?. Is it not what he gives that we know.”

Asked if the issue was reported to the appropriate authority, she said they only did as the priest instructed, adding that they did not report him to the Committee or council because they did not want to be seen as having personal interest.

It was further gathered that the Parish Priest is alleged to be in a serious relationship with a married woman who attends the church.

According to a source who pleaded anonymity said the Priest in order to cover his tracks sacked more than five security men in less than one year.

The source said, “Many members of the Church that would have helped build and grow the church have all abandoned the church and moved to other churches.

“The church has become stagnant because of this. The poor handling of the Church by Livinus has resulted in the management of the estate not allocating land for the permanent structure.”

Responding to the allegations, the Head of the Parish Communication Committee, Mr. Ifeanyi Valentine, said those behind the allegations were just trying to seek attention and to be an hindrance to the peace the church currently enjoys.

He stated categorically that the allegations that the Parish Priest took over the responsibility of counting church offering was not true, saying it is not his responsibility.

Valentine said: “The Priest have lot of responsibility to run the church, rather than counting money. There is a Finance Committee, they are the one counting the offering. I think that is same thing in all churches.

“It is neither Father’s job to count offering, there is a Finance Council whose responsibility is basically Finance of the church. So, Father has never count offering and will never because it’s not his duty

“I think the person is just trying to seek attention and to be an hindrance to the peace we enjoy in the church.”

Valentine noted that while there was no suspicion of theft or allegations against the church wardens who were counting the money before, the Father only asked the appropriate committee to take over the duty.

He added that there was no truth in the allegation that he sacked the security personnel working in the church.

According to him, The security in the church currently are same set of security even before the Priest they are accusing came to the Church. It’s quite strange where all this false information are coming from.

Valentine explained that the Parish Priest was putting in so much efforts to ensure that the church get the land, saying allegations against the Priest were neither through nor genuine.

Asked if there was a clash of interest in the church, he added, “No. A big No. The church is peaceful, very peaceful, absolutely Peaceful without any clash of interest.

“Be mindful that the church is not a political ground, catholic church is not a one man church where they fight for interest.

“My candid advice to your source is that you tell him or her to stop fighting against the church of God, He or she shouldn’t disturb the peace we enjoy, we are one family of God’s People. Our Parish shouldn’t be used for his or her personal motive.”

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Commission will provide support and guidance for FCT-Civil Service Commission to succeed-Prof. Olaopa

Published

37 mins ago

April 26, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Thee Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa has assured the Chairman, FCT Civil Service Commission (FCT-CSC) that Federal Civil Service Commission will give all necessary support and guidance to his team to succeed as he aimed to build effective and professionally oriented Civil Service Commission for the Federal Capital Territory.

Olaopa made this known when a team of FCT Civil Service Commission led by its pioneer Chairman, Engr. Emeka Ezeh paid him a courtesy visit in his office today. He pledged his unalloyed support for the delegation on the task of building the FCT Commission.

“It is only our duty to provide the required guidance as a matter of rights. You need to be guided”.

He equally praised the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bar. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike for making history by taking the bold decision of establishing the foundation for public administration practice in the FCT as seen through his inauguration of the Commission on the 18th March, 2024.

The Chairman said bureaucrats applaud it when government takes a far reaching political decision as done by the FCT-Minister which elevates public administration to another heights; adding that such action deserves maximum support not only to ensure its utmost success but accord such initiative a desirable compliments so that the objective of government can be achieved to the fullest extent possible.

While informing the delegation that the Federal Civil Service Commission was to have its Secretary soon to make it a full-fledge organization that will not rely on pool officers, he commended FCT-CSC for having a substantive Secretary that makes it a true establishment.

He added that the bane of the Federal Civil Service Commission has been staff migrating out of the Commission for greener-pastures. “People go to where there is money. But the truth of the matter is the Commission is not set up to run project. It is a service Commission”

He disclosed that going-forward and with the approval of the President, any civil servant that will be posted to the Commission will be made to sign a 5year-bond- an agreement that will make staff stay for this period in the Commission before leaving elsewhere service-wide.

He told the FCT-CSC delegation that their Commission has limitless opportunities to be innovative unlike the FCSC that he called “inherited baggages” which he said it was very tough dealing with the current bureaucratic structure that is not easy to manage, stating that FCSC staff need re-orientation.

Commission boss emphasized that FCSC would have been a game-changer for him if he had a fresh start like FCT-CSC as it would allow him to determine the kind of management system he wants but not possible to have a fresh with bureaucratic structure on he met ground.

Stating those changes the FCT-CSC Chairman needs to make to succeed, Olaopa pointed out that the Commission should try its best not to inherit the old-school baggages and outdated practices which can make the Commission not to be relevant.

He said the life-span of the FCT-CSC Commission is very short but takes a very smart leader to re-think the place. He also called for administrative efficiency that is driven by technology. According to him, any system that has not increase its digital penetration is four generations backward.

Olaopa equally said the Commission should performance-manage where it would put itself under performance-bond with target set for what it wants to achieve in the next five-years. He emphasized that FCT-CSC should pursue professionalism and strive to become ISO compliant and centre of excellence in terms of administrative efficiency. He called on the FCT-CSC to collaborate with the Commission to avoid duplication of what the Commission has already done in its recent Seminar.

FCSC Chairman advised that FCT-CSC forthcoming Seminar should have sub-theme that will discuss functions, powers and responsibilities as well as the challenges and opportunities in the Civil Service Commission. Olaopa said the FCSC Seminar from 13th to 16th May 2024 is an event that will set the tone for FCT-CSC first level Seminar.

He revealed that it is very important for FCT-CSC to engage with FCT-Head of Service (FCT-HOS) to start on sound footing. According to him, the two organizations have defined functions that complement each-other like Siamese twins and not to be in competition.

Speaking earlier, FCT-CSC Chairman, Engr. Emeka Ezeh who came in company of his Commissioners and Secretary of the Commission, Mallam Umar Sander Kuso, disclosed that coming to the Commission was the first outing of the team after their inauguration by FCT-Minister on the 18th March, 2024.

Ezeh said the reason for their visit was to thank the Hon. Chairman for attending their inauguration and also, to secure the Commission’s guidance, collaboration, and support as they embark on the job of establishing the new FCT Civil Service Commission.
He informed that the Act setting up FCT Civil Service Commission was signed into law on August 24, 2018; and charged the Commission with the responsibility for appointments, promotion, discipline, and transfer of civil servants to the civil service of the Federal Capital Territory.

He used the occasion to invite the FCSC Chairman to their roundtable meeting coming up on the 13th to 16th May, 2024 which aimed at charting a way forward for the FCT Commission, He said Prof.
Olaopa is expected to facilitate a session at the meeting where he will speak on: “Civil Service Commission structure and functions” between 9.30am and 11:00am followed by question and answer session.

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