VALEDICTORY SERVICE TO HOLD MAY 28 AT NEW INT’L WORSHIP CENTER …..AS GOV EMMANUEL OPENS UP ON GRATUITY, PENSIONS
The Evangelist News Edition, May 2, 2023. By Admin.
A valedictory service of thanksgiving on the success of the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led administration in Akwa Ibom State is scheduled to hold at the ultramodern International Worship Center earmarked for inauguration come 28th May 2023.
The State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, announced this Monday, while addressing worshippers during the new month Government House Covenant Service held with the theme “Be ye Thankful” at Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo.
The State Chief Executive explained that the International Worship Center is an altar built unto God by Akwa Ibom people as a worship center and a place of prayers to speak positivity into the lives of the people as well as growth and development of the state.
Reflecting on the eight years of his administration, the governor expressed appreciation to God for the peace enjoyed in the state and thanked Christians who prayed fervently for the growth witnessed in the state.
He acknowledged the Service Chiefs for working tirelessly to maintain peace which he described as the fulcrum of development which gave investors reasons to settle in the state .
“I want to thank God for this opportunity, I thank my dear wife, and all those who have supported me in the past good eight years.
” I have made an announcement that I will have a valedictory thanksgiving service on the 28th of May at the International Worship Center .
People see the International Worship Center as a building, but I see it as an altar we are setting up to speak positivity over this land”, he stated.
Governor Emmanuel said that God’s benevolence has seen his administration through two major economic recessions and the outbreak of Covid-19 which ravaged the world.
He maintained that his administration has been able to pay workers’ salaries and pensions, intervened at the third tier of government by settling 11 billion naira gratuities out of the 18 billion inherited from previous administration.
“I have not owed any pensioner, I am leaving here today not owing one naira pension.
“The issue of gratuity I have explained over time came up because of how the contributory pension scheme was managed.
“We made contributions, a lot of money then were refunded, what would have been done was to reinvest that money in order to pay back, but i met about N18 billion unpaid gratuity and there is nothing I could have done with two recessions and Covid-19 to recover that amount.
“Even the ones we paid to Primary Schools and Local Government is not in my budget, it is the third tier responsibility of the Local Government. As at today we have intervened with over 11 billion Naira on gratuities”.
Governor Emmanuel commended the Father’s in Faith for attending the covenant service, noting that their fevent prayers have been rewarding.
Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Center, Abuja, Dr. Paul Enenche, who delivered a sermon on the topic “Season of Appreciation and Reflection” culled from Eccl: 12: 13, said that at the conclusion of every endeavour or project there is need for appreciation and reflection, adding that the focus of appreciation is for help and mercy.
Preaching further, the servant of God noted that appreciation brings multiplication, glorification, acceleration, direction and activates the action of God, while reflection affords man opportunity to ask pertinent questions that will produce corrections, revision and redirection.
