ENOUGH OF DISASTERS IN REFUGEES AND IDPS CAMPS, LET THEM GO HOME TO ROOST!

   ZION B-BC   NEWSLETTER.  

(Looking at Nigeria's Political System from a godly Perspective!)

A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja Nigeria. [VOL. 6. NO 181. 29th January, 2017.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You Free! (John.8:32).

ENOUGH OF DISASTERS IN REFUGEES AND IDPS CAMPS, LET THEM GO HOME TO ROOST!

Refugees and Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs), of the North East States of Nigeria, comprising Bornu, Adamawa, Yobe and spill overs from the Cameroon, Niger and Chad borders, have suffered enough hardships, deprivations, squalor, all forms of communicable diseases, random physical abuses of rapes, and impregnation of the women and minors by officials who should normally protect and succour them, intermittent attacks by Boko Haram suicide bombers, who infiltrated the camps with various forms of devices and worse still, accidental air strike by government forces, and now that the nefarious gang had been defeated, these maligned masses should be disbanded to go home to roost! It was time all stakeholders took the "bull by the horn" and let the people go to fulfil their destinies in their home lands. It does not matter whether the whole lands were still in ruins or not, the important thing now is the determination of people and governments to jointly build together from the ruins and from grass to grace!
The Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE), to which a sum of N10 million naira was allocated as operational costs, is the umpteenth apex body to be set in motion for all necessary feasibility measures for RECONSTRUCTION, RE-INTEGRATION AND REHABILITATION, (RRR), since the year 2014, which makes it the most appropriate time for the incumbent administration to inquire for the percentage of implementation so far achieved?
CHIBOK TOWN, which gained universal attention due to the abduction of over 275 secondary school girls by the Boko Haram terrorists on 14th April, 2014, has sprung back to life and all social activities including schooling, presumably under the Safe School Initiative Programme (SSIP), have commenced on full stream. The same scenario is playing out in Maiduguri, the State Capital and other major towns of the 27 Local Government Areas, (LGAs).
We have it on record that FOUR MONTHS after the publication of our Vol. 2. No. 29 Edition of the Zion B-BC Newsletter Edition, dated 2nd March, 2014, and titled, "Social Injustice, Boko Haram Terrorism, Jonathan's Role And Divine Solution", God the Holy Spirit touched ex-President Ebele Jonathan to carry out some of the recommendations as outlined below:
(1) He established, “THE INSURGENCY VICTIMS FUND” [TIVF], a special fund to cater for victims of insurgency in parts of the NORTH.
The funds for TIVF will be raised through donations and contributions by a Committee of very eminent and trustworthy Nigerians drawn from both the public and private sectors of the economy.
(2) He also on Thursday 17th July, 2014, in Abuja, inaugurated, the “SAFE SCHOOL INITIATIVE PROGRAMME” [SSIP], which was announced by the Business Community at the recently concluded World Economic Forum on Africa. [WEFA].
(3) His Minister of Finance said that the sum of $20million US dollars, was set aside for the take off of SSIP by WEFA and in addition, the Nigerian Business Community and the Federal Government, had also contributed $10 million US dollars each, totalling $40 million US dollars, to support the programme.
(4) It was revealed by that government that the International Community also indicated strong interest to support the SSIP project which will compliment TIVF, because parents, victims and other people, who suffered hardships, would have a portion, in terms of support for them.
(5) Jonathan's Administration also announced another package tagged the Presidential Initiative on the North East States, which would ensure that emergency reliefs and other emergency support to people, who were affected, were urgently implemented.
(6) The Finance Minister, further explained that a component of RECONSTRUCTION OF DAMAGED INFRASTRUCTURE under the Presidential Initiative on the North East would also work with the SSIP; adding that, THE WHOLE PACKAGE WAS DESIGNED TO COMPLIMENT ONE ANOTHER IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED SUCCESS!
All of the above, were efforts presumably made by the last Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Administration under the watch of former President Jonathan to ameliorate the degradation of human lives at the various camps with the collective efforts of the States’ Local Government communities as well as International Partners, working in partnership with the Federal Government until it was later discovered at the advent of the Change Government of the All Progressives Congress (APC), that over $2.2 billion US dollars, voted to prosecute the war against Boko Haram terrorists, was actually disbursed to pursue the INORDINATE AMBITION of the ex-President for a THIRD TERM TENURE!

NOW, THE ONUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RRR PROJECT RESTS ON THE CHANGE AGENDA GOVERNMENT!
The mass movement of peoples from their comfort zones to strange environments and cultures due to aggravated ethnic, tribal, or religious disagreements had been the major causes of global refugee and internally displaced persons challenges presently confronting all governments, even the most advanced nations! It was therefore no wonder that even, the United States of America (USA), a nation chiefly populated by immigrants has vowed, through the new helmsman, President Donald Trump, that all strangers would be expelled for Americans to occupy their rightful places in the business of nation building and for adequate national security to be guaranteed! Is America not well informed that the droves of refugees from Syria's 5-year-old civil war which began in 2011, had been unprecented, because multitude of war victims had to be absorbed into the European Union (EU), countries on humanitarian grounds and that their influx into those countries resulted in the infiltration of the immigrants camps by terrorists who perpetrated their ranks to execute dastard attacks in France, and Germany, respectively? Though the Refugees and IDPs camps should be temporary shelters for displaced people, contemporary events have proved the opposite, because most of such congregations have outlived their purposes and have subsequently transformed into soft targets which any criminal could infiltrate to cause worse havocs. Security intelligence report revealed that Boko Haram terrorists gathered to attack a military target close to the Refugees Camp in Raan, Bornu State, near the Cameroon borders!  An air strike was ordered to hit the location but the refugees camp was mistakenly targeted and bombed by a Nigerian Air Force jet fighter on 17th January, 2017! Rann was once occupied by Boko Haram terrorists in the height of their rampages, but was recaptured by the Federal Troops who established an IDPs Camp among the heaps of ruins of burnt buildings with a view to eventually rehabilitate and resettle the inhabitants of the area in due course.
If all of the above palliatives of both the outgone and incumbent administrations are to be fully implemented, the refugees and IDPs camps must be disbanded and all of them moved to their various Wards and Local Government Areas with full complement of security protection which is now supported by Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), local vigilante groups, and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to start a new life after over SEVEN YEARS of forced deprivation, gradually erase SOFT TARGET opportunities for Boko Haram suicide bombers and also create the craving desire for the natives to go back to the land and support Federal Government’s initiative for diversification of the economy from crude oil to AGRICULTURE  and SOLID MINERAL ECONOMIC RESOURCES. This movement back home would also afford the locals to have direct partnership in the RRR PROJECT, save operational costs, and enhance faster economic growth as all artisans would be fully and adequately employed in building constructions, roads rehabilitation, mining and vigilante activities, to earn living wages and provide for their families. The LORD would surely protect these seemingly vulnerable species with His Angels roundabout! It is also very imperative for President Buhari's administration to harmonize all funds that have been injected into the RRR PROJECT since 2014, especially the $40 million US dollars donated for SSIP and TIVF projects, verify, authenticate and make public their findings to assure the tax payers that nothing was amiss in this arduous humanitarian task.
In Yobe State for instance, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), programme which had been suspended for SIX YEARS had bubbled back to life as the "Batch A" members, resumed at their Orientation Camp on Tuesday 25th January, 2017, for a three-week orientation course in Damaturu, the State Capital! Of the over 2.4 million refugees and IDPs of the North East, Boko Haram insurgency, more than 400.000 camped around Yola, Adamawa State capital were catered for to resettle in their indigenous locations by several organisations including, Adamawa Peace Initiative (API), a group of business, religious and community leaders and the Adamawa Muslim Council (AMC), while the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), ensured continuous humanitarian assistance. With such bold drive, Boko Haram terrorists attacks were drastically reduced because most soft targets locations created through refugees and IDPs congregation had disappeared!

The National Assembly (NASS), was equally involved in the RRR Project through an eight-man ad-hoc committee constituted to ascertain how much of funds were released to PINE and how they were disbursed because complaints of mounting humanitarians crisis in the North East. Senator Kaka Bashir Garbai (APC: Bornu), recently drew attention of Nigerians to a report by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), which stated that about 4.5 million people were in dire need of assistance, with about a million people at the verge of extreme malnutrition. He also disclosed that the Senate increased revenue allocation for IDPs in the 2016 Budget from N6 billion to 10 billion naira, but regretted that PINE, which was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 was yet to show tangible results in ameliorating the crisis in spite of the fact that over half of the appropriated N10 billion naira, including several donations by Donor Agencies and philanthropists had been released to the body! The concern of the Senators, who also resolved to donate N300.000 naira each for the maintenance of the IDPs is commendable and their resolve to probe all activities in respect of funding, donations and disbursements by government so far is highly patriotic. Allegations of fraud and mismanagement of funds, diversion of grains and other food items from the strategic grains reserves, by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials and Security agents should not be delayed but accelerated to fish out all culpable officials, who must be sanctioned and speedily prosecuted according to the LAW, in order to serve as deterrent to would-be malfeasants! IT WAS TIME WE LOVED OUR NEIGHBOURS AND BECOME OUR BROTHERS KEEPERS! AMEN.

Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access, to this newsletter, log on to:  facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com, https://www.google.com/+zionfaithbiblebelievingchurch.

Please look forward to divine revelations in  The Sure Word Gospel Tracts, Our divinely inspired books on the Amazon KINDLE Store Namely: The Unbroken Chain of Grace, Nigeria’s Pot Pourri (Volumes 1-5), Godly Politicking For World Peace,  and The Wedding Mascot Died. 

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations.

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor. 08130669886, 08098194390.  08080243066   g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

"THERE IS PONZI FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, RUN, RUN, RUN!"

ZION B-BC   NEWSLETTER.  

( Looking at Nigeria's Political System from a godly Perspective).
A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja Nigeria. [VOL. 6. NO 180. 22nd January, 2017.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You   Free! (John.8:32).

"THERE IS PONZI FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, RUN, RUN, RUN!"

There is a pronounced dearth of good leadership direction in Nigeria and which vacuum had forced unscrupulous citizens to opt for suicidal Ponzi schemes and Pyramid scams in order to become suddenly "rich and affluent” like their political representatives who flaunt illicit wealth around in spite of the economic recession which the Change Agenda Government of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is grappling to overcome! Concerned, upright  and patriotic citizens, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), have warned against the get-rich-quick mania tendencies and the doctrine of avarice being disseminated by economic saboteurs, and have advised gullible Nigerians from falling into the crafty plots of losing their total life savings and investments to con men! But they, all in one voice boldly and brazenly told CBN to shut up and mind its own business stressing that they owned their monies and could spend or invest as they so desired!
PONZI SCAM is derived from the name of an Italian male swindler, Carlo Charles Ponzi. According to Wikitionary, the scheme is fraudulent in that earlier investors were paid directly with the money taken from new investors, giving the false impression that the scheme was a viable investment. There are many of these frauds being perpetrated on internet with millions duped of their monies and possessions and several suicides committed!
PYRAMID SCHEME is similar to Ponzi in that, it is also an illicit money-making investment scheme whereby earlier investors are paid primarily or wholly by later investors but eventually such schemes fail to the detriment of recent (later) investors! As in Ponzi, tales of woes, of gargantuan loses and suicidal deaths, have trailed all of pyramid schemes ever introduced to gullible persons! MMM (Mavrodi Mondial Movement), Scheme's international organisers have claimed not to operate a ponzi scheme but had evolved a system where participants provided money and circulated such money to support one another and in the process get 30% monthly interest on their investments. On 14th December, 2016, MMM Nigeria suspended the scheme, froze its accounts, suspended its internet site, but promised to re-open in one month, which it actually did on 13th January, 2017. In spite of this development, no one has been able to claim any money from the scheme as it was reported that one of the organisers had fled from Nigeria! Other such scams making rounds in Nigeria include, Diamond, Silver and Crypto Currencies Internet Businesses which we advise Nigerians should avoid like plague!

WHAT INFLUENCED MANY NIGERIANS TO FALL INTO THE TRAP OF PYRAMID SCAMS?
For many years after independence and till date, Nigerian politicians had lived in affluence and comfort from the sweat and blood of the so-called common people and peasants who are the artisans - farmers, labourers, scavengers, hewers of the wood and "mai ruwas" (drawers of the water), - whom they swore on oath to represent, protect and succour with the basic amenities of life. But during the administration of the First republic, the very first Minister of Finance was caught with thousands of thousands of the British Pound Sterling fully stacked in his wardrobes when his house was searched during the military interregnum!
When Labour Unions were formed to contend with unfavourable government policies and the discrepancies between politicians' stupendous wealth and the glaring poverty among the masses, the politicians played the game of "divide-and-rule", confronted and intimidated them on the streets with the guns and bullets purchased with the taxes paid by the protesters! Ethics had been thrown to the winds by these unscrupulous politicians who are insensitive to the plight of the TALAKAWAS! This is still the trend in the Nigerian polity where most POLITICIANS GET RICHER AND THE PEASANTS GET POORER! While all political office holders collect their salaries/allowances as at when due, the masses of workers were not so hopeful because they might get some small percentages of their entitlements while more than 12 months of arrears remained unpaid and outstanding in many States of the federation!
There was a public outcry against politicians' demands for WARDROBE ALLOWANCES AND SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR BRAND NEW VEHICLES in 2015 at the advent of the CHANGE AGENDA APC GOVERNMENT as in past administrations, but they manipulated and sidelined every financial best practice and due process to achieve their goals! It is on record that the Senators got 109 imported Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), in spite of scarcity of foreign exchange reserves while the House of Representatives members did not publicize their loots until Malam Aminu Jibrin exposed the rot among the peoples' representatives! THE OPEN DISPLAY OF ILLICT GAINS FROM THE LUCRATIVE BUSINESS OF POLITICS IN NIGERIA has consequently pushed desperate masses to the brink of wanting the get rich like politicians by hook or crook through ponzi scams and they cared less whether they lost or gained! We support President Buhari's total war on corruption especially on corrupt politicians of whatever divide and we request that special tribunals be speedily set up to hasten the prosecution of those found culpable so that those who are still making jest of the crusade will be silenced in shame, while convicted persons be cast into prisons where they had belonged from the onset of their political career which was achieved through FRAUD!

LUCRATIVE PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM AND PDP POLITICIANS!
Apart from the prudent Parliamentary system of government practised during  the First Republic, subsequent Nigerian Constitutions opted for the very expensive Presidential system that catered only for the interest of the politicians rather than the people they claimed to be representing according to the1979, 1983 and 1999 Constitutions which gave latitude to extravagance through lavish expenditures on government officials. This Nigerian model of presidential system makes room for excessive outrageous salaries and allowances for public office holders outside of the CIVIL SERVICE STRUCTURE OF EMOLUMENTS and therefore inadvertently created room for envy and rivalry which have now manifested in collusion and collaboration of the two bodies in amassing illicit wealth; (the civil servants handled pseudo paper works while the political appointees signed them for cash), to the detriment of the workers who are left high and dry and with nothing to show for their labour!

HOW DID THE POLITICIANS COME ABOUT FREE FLOW OF ILLICIT MONEY?
The Nigerian political terrain has "porous borders" through which illicit monies found their ways into illegal pockets of unpatriotic politicians who had mastered how to bend the rules in their favour! Take for instance, the National Assembly  (NASS), Legislators (109 Senators and 360 Representatives), whose annual salaries, allowances and other emoluments were permanently shrouded in secrecy since the new attempt at democracy in 1999, in spite of a court order that the CLERK should divulge that information for public consumption! And yet, these people live larger than life!

THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF EMPHASIS OF MONETARIZED POLITICS ON THE IMPOVERISHED MASSES!
Nigerian politicians have at long last succeeded in spreading the DOCTRINE OF AVARICE TO THE MASSES and there is now FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN IN FORM OF DISOBEDIENCE TO THE DIVINE COMMANDMENT AGAINST THE LOVE OF MONEY! PONZI/PYRAMID SCAMS AND CRYPTO CURRENCIES REPRESENT THE DANGEROUS AND DESTRUCTIVE FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN AND OUR CANDID ADVICE IS THAT VULNERABLE CITIZENS SHOULD RUN, RUN, RUN AND RUN INTO DIVINE SAFETY! The Word of God states that: "The name of the LORD is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it and is safe. (Proverbs. 18:10). Nigerians should run into divine safety now because THIS PONZI, PYRAMID, MMM, GOLD, SILVER AND CRYPTO CURRENCY FIRES ARE VERY DESTRUCTIVE! POVERTY CANNOT BE ELIMINATED THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN DECEIT AND FALSEHOOD!

WHAT EFFECTS WOULD THIS DEVELOPMENT HAVE ON NIGERIA'S ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SYSTEMS?
The major fall-out of the avalanche of PYRAMID SCAMS in Nigeria is an imminent Capital Flight of all life savings of the middle-class/artisans - who occupy the strategic position of the national economy, as the Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs - into the vaults of the scammers who are mostly of foreign nationalities and who would disappear into thin air when they would have ravished desperate and stubborn Nigerians of their legitimate incomes!  The CBN on behalf of the Federal Government has taken pro-active measures by quickly alerting Nigerians on the imminent danger of investing in pyramid scams which can be aptly described as a suicide bid by any adventurer. In a statement, the banking house warned all citizens to desist from investing their monies into the scheme which is not guaranteed by any legislation especially the INTERNET CRYPTO CURRENCIES AND BITCOINS which are also gainning momentum! A word is sufficient for the WISE!

OUR ADVICE?  It was high time all avenues of stealing and legislative wastages under the guise of CONSTITUENCY/RUNNING COST ALLOWANCES be permanently blocked and we profer a new suggesstion of constitutional legalization for a UNI-CAMERAL LEGISLATIVE HOUSE OF 74 MEMBERS ON PART-TIME APPOINTMENTS. In the meantime the present crop of legislators MUST be forced to collect recommended salaries and allowances by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC), as prescribed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
"For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew. 16:26)

Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access, to this newsletter, log on to:  facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com, https://www.google.com/+zionfaithbiblebelievingchurch.

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations.

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor. 08130669886, 08098194390.  08080243066   g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

How to please God!

WITHOUT FAITH YOU CANNOT PLEASE GOD!

SHOULD NIGERIAN CHURCH LEADERS BE RETIRED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

    ZION B-BC   NEWSLETTER.  

(Looking at Nigeria's Political System from a godly Perspective).

A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja Nigeria. [VOL. 6. NO 179. 15th January, 2017.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You   Free! (John.8:32).

SHOULD NIGERIAN CHURCH LEADERS BE RETIRED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

Gone were the days when the Word of the Prophet was Law to the King and his parliament! Gone was that period when the Man of God boldly stood before a King and his lords in council and declared: "Thus saith the LORD: Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel in the gates of Samaria, and such prophecy came true!  (2 Kings. 7:1-20). Gone were the MIRACLES OF FIRE FROM HEAVEN BY PROPHET ELIJAH who called for fire to destroy 102 soldiers of King Ahaziah's Army and also whose sacrifice was consumed by fire from Heaven before 450 prophets of the heathen god, Baal and 400 of the grooves which ate at Queen Jezebel's table! (2Kings.1-15; 1Kings. 18:19-39). In the present Church Age and Dispensation of Grace, the spirit of APOSTACY was invited into the CHURCH through priesthood covetousness which had successfully nullified the divine anointing and spiritual powers of some servants of GOD who have turned round to become false prophets, preachers, teachers, evangelists etc, and have made mockery of the divine teachings about holiness, righteousness, probity, selflessness, truthfulness etc, as enshrined in the Word of God!

How did the Church become so powerless in spite of the transfer of the POWER OF ATTORNEY from the Lord Jesus Christ to His apostles for continuity of global evangelization but now, have to be subjected under the supervision of the  Government which they were mandated to guide for proper conduct towards its citizens at all times? (Matthew. 28:18-20; Mark.16:15-18; Acts. 1:8). Why would any government force Churches to register as business enterprises and so be regulated according to its whim and caprice? We are aware of Christians civil responsibilities to godly rulers, ".....for there is no power but of God, the powers that be are ordained of God." (Rom.13:1-7), and the roles of the Church towards the larger society which scripture reveals as FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such, THERE IS NO LAW." (Galatians.5:22-23). But we have come to realize that the reasons why some governments coerce the Church with carnal laws is because some ministers of God have assumed the nature and person of ACHAN (Joshua. 7: 10-26),  who brought shame, defeat and reproach to the nation of Israel through covetousness/disobedience and also WORKS OF THE FLESH as enunciated in Galatians.5:16-17. Those men of God who dine and wine with corrupt politicians and seek for contracts from government are those who failed to claim both the prophetic prayers of the Lord Jesus Christ for His apostles in the gospel according to Saint John Chapter 17: 1- 26 and the power of the Holy Spirit, released since Pentecost over two thousand years ago, as recorded in Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2:1-3:26.

CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BE BLAMED FOR LEGISLATING OVER THE CHURCH THAT DRIFTED FROM ITS ECCLESIASTICAL REALM TO MEDDLE IN TERRESTIAL MATTERS?
The Roman Catholic Church world-wide is headed by the Pope who is the representative of God over the church and who is also accorded the status of the Head of State of Rome, among the United Nations of the world, but does not participate in terrestrial administration. The Papacy is not under any obligation of accountability to the Italian Government and remains the Head of the Catholic Church for life! But that does not mean that Catholics like their Pentecostal brethren do not pay taxes to governments of the world according to the Lord Jesus Christ who paid His tax and also commanded: "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God, what is God's". The Lord Jesus established the Church on a triangular platform of destroying the works of Satan, winning of souls, and charity towards the poor, needy, disabled, orphans, widows etc, and this is why churches are majorly involved in Christian education through building of schools and also in health matters through ownership of clinics and hospitals to cater for its members and the general public at highly subsidized rates. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous servants of God have deviated from the Lord's principles and have become super- rich through these avenues to the detriment of the poor masses among their fold who could not afford exorbitant school fees and medical bills from such religious institutions and that kind of attitude must have also informed government of the need to force churches in general to submit to its financial, accounting and retirement regulations!

ARE THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES NOT ECCLESIASTICAL AND CELESTIAL?
The sudden announcement of the self-retirement of one of God's Generals in Nigeria, the highly revered and charismatic Christian leader, Pastor (Professor) Enoch Adejare Adeboye, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG), World-Wide, through a government directive from active service recently and the immediate appointment of his successor, hit the social media with much frenzy and surprise because such had not been the practice in the Christendom! During the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving, held at the Redemption Camp, chaired by the eminent servant of God, he personally announced his retirement and his replacement by one of his assistants, Pastor Joseph Obayemi, sequel to the new legal requirements set up by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), guiding  all registered Churches, Mosques etc, and which stipulates that Heads of non-profit organizations now have a minimum period of 20 years to lead their organizations and on retirement, were not permitted to hand over to their families!
Pastor Adeboye joined the RCCG in 1973, and became the General Overseer (GO), in 1981 when the Founder Papa Akindayomi passed on the previous year. He was born on 2nd March, 1942. in Ifewara, Osun State.

TOUCH NOT MINE ANOINTED, AND DO MY PROPHETS NO HARM!"
He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm." (Psalm. 105:14-15). The quoted scripture illuminates God's unflinching love for His chosen people, ISRAEL, whose travails on their journey to the promised land was punctuated by unending military oppositions by hostile nations! God's jealous protection over His Church which was established through the Lord Jesus Christ who said in Matthew.16:18-19; "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Dr. C.I. Scofield, says: "The word "church" (Gk, ekklesia, from a verb meaning to call out) is used of any assembly and in itself implies no more than the gathering of people who have been called forth, e.g. the town meeting at Ephesus (Acts.19:41), and Israel, called out of Egypt and assembled in the wilderness (Acts.7:38).  Israel was a "Church," but not in any sense the N.T. church- the primary point of similarity being that both were "called out" and by the same God (Acts 7:38; Hebrew.12:23). That, "the gates of hell" (the powers of death), shall not prevail against the church, was a divine assurance that, no matter the intimidation, harassment, persecution or tribulation which the anti-Christ forces of this world might constitute, the church would be protected from death or extinction through the symbolic resurrection of Jesus Christ (Head of the church), from the dead after his crucifixion!
There is no doubt that Apostasy - which means, a falling away from the faith and rebellion against Christ by covetous Christians who have imported worldly pleasures of lust of the flesh, illicit prosperity, the unbiblical love of money, - has now dominated the Christendom in view of the glaring competition of wealth, affluence and positions of authority between them and the gentiles, as succinctly elucidated in 2 Timothy. 3:1-5. Some Nigerian "Men of God" now openly compete with corrupt politicians in riches, wealth, acquisition of ephemeral worldly properties of mansions, state-of-art vehicles, jet aircrafts, helicopters, expensive attires and dress codes, industrial and manufacturing establishment ownership, heavy investments in stocks and shares, government Bonds etc, to the detriment of the MANDATE OF THE GREAT COMMISSION, have lost all spiritual anointing AND COULD NO LONGER PROPHESY ANY EVENT WITH ACCURACY! From the beginning of time GOD had been in control of RELIGION. He, as the sovereign Head of His creation, spiritually appointed His prophets, beginning with Moses, to Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, etc, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who all distinguished and fulfilled the mandate of their Godly commission diligently with distinction and accountability .Distinguished Nigerian Nobel Laureate, Prof. 'Wole Soyinka, commented at a Book launch in Abuja on 11th January, 2017 that the Southern Kaduna mindless killings by Fulani herdsmen had religious connotation and warned that, "Religion will kill Nigeria if it is not tamed" , at the presentation of the book titled, "Religion and the Making of Nigeria." He condemned killings in the name of religion and wondered when religion became a killing machine and how any rational being could attempt to justify homicide with devotion! Religious tolerance was envisaged in the Nigerian Constitution which apportioned SECULARITY STATUS to the State so that everyone was free to practice his/her faith without intimidation, harassment or persecution under any guise! Secularism is that state in which religious power, influence or control should not conflict with the social contract and political activities of a country but that the citizens should freely practice their faith unhindered!

THE COPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE ISSUED BY FRCN ON 17TH OCTOBER, 2016.
The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, (FRCN), is one of the parastatals under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and it is responsible for setting and promoting compliance with standards for accounting, finanancial reporting and auditing in Nigeria. According to Mr. Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, to the President, the said code that forced Pastor E.A. Adeboye, General Overseer (GO), of RCCG to step down on 9th January, 2017, has now been suspended on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari, who disbanded the Board and has set up a new one that would now carry out a detailed review of its application to involve extensive consultations with stakeholders upon the re-constitution of the new Board. Will Pastor Adeboye rescind his decision? We are of the strong opinion that there should be no competition, conflict or rivalry between Government and the Church whose divine functions are clearly defined unambiguously in the Word of God, and we commend our amiable President Buhari, who has unequivocally proved once again to the world that he was not a religious bigot by setting the records straight for wider consultations among all stakeholders. We hereby remind covetous "men of God" to repent quickly in order not to end up like GEHAZI! (2 Kings. 5:20-27). THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO ACCUMULATE THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON! WE SHOULD WORK OUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND WITH TREMBLING!

Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access, to this newsletter, log on to:  facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com, https://www.google.com/+zionfaithbiblebelievingchurch.

Please look forward to divine revelations in  The Sure Word Gospel Tracts, Our divinely inspired books on the Amazon KINDLE Store Namely: The Unbroken Chain of Grace, Nigeria’s Pot Pourri (Volumes 1-5), Godly Politicking For World Peace,  and The Wedding Mascot Died. 

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations.

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor. 08130669886, 08098194390.  08080243066   g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

NIGERIA’S UNITY REMAINS NON-NEGOTIABLE IN SPITE OF THE MYRIADS OF AGITATIONS BY DETRACTORS!

ZION B-BC   NEWSLETTER.  
(Looking at Nigeria's Political System From a godly Perspective)

A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja Nigeria. [VOL. 5. NO 178. 8th January, 2017.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You   Free! (John.8:32).

NIGERIA’S UNITY REMAINS NON-NEGOTIABLE IN SPITE  OF THE MYRIADS OF AGITATIONS BY DETRACTORS!

The colonial amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria was effected in 1914, with good intentions, for the diverse tribes, tongues, castes, traditions and cultures to fuse, blend and harness their great agricultural/natural potentials to build a united Black African nation of great economic advantage that would attract foreign entrepreneurs to explore/exploit opportunities of investment and industrialization of the large market space! That purpose was achieved because the period between 1914-1960, turned out to be 46 years of  tremendous economic activities of exports, imports and massive industrialization of Nigeria from South to North and East to West; - construction of motorable roads and railways for transportation of goods and services from the hinterland to sea ports along the coastal regions in the South. Transportation was also introduced when the first airport was constructed in a Royal Air Force Station, Makia, Kano, long before Independence in 1936, and later in other regional capitals.
In all those years, NIGERIANS had everything in common! Economic and unrestricted commercial/trade zones between the three regions of North, East and West, inter marriages, cultural and traditional exchanges of dress codes, encouragement of the study of the three major languages of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba from the primary education level, and legalization of COMMON OWNERSHIP of proceeds from commercialization of mineral resources in any part of the federation! The Minerals and Mining Act of 1947 which was enacted by the British colonial masters and which eventually found its legislation in our traditional consecutive Federal Constitutions, readily comes to mind. Under the SECOND SCHEDULE, LEGISLATIVE POWERS, Part I, Executive Legislative List, No. 39, "Mines and minerals, including oil fields, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas", operations shall be the exclusive preserve of the Federal Government. Also under Chapter II, Fundamental Objectives And Directive Principles Of State Policy, Section 16, (2),(a),(b),(c), in summary legislated for a PLANNED AND BALANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, under the ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES OF GOVERNMENT; i.e. that the material resources of the nation are HARNESSED AND DISTRIBUTED, as best as possible to serve the common good; and that the economic system is not operated IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO PERMIT  THE CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH OR THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION AND EXCHANGE IN THE HANDS OF FEW INDIVIDUALS OR OF A GROUP!

When the above analysis is juxtaposed with the current agitations for RESTRUCTURING OF NIGERIA for diverse reasons and intentions by the unpatriotic and the charlatan, it becomes crystal clear that the good intentions of the colonial masters for Nigeria to utilize her unique diversity advantageously for collective strength and be united as one indivisible people, has been truncated because it did not take long after INDEPENDENCE before that dream fell like a pack of cards through a bloody military coup and since 15th January, 1966, all things had fallen apart and the centre could no longer hold, according to renown late author and writer, CHINUA ACHEBE!

BEAUTY OF UNITY AMONG BRETHREN.
In the Word of God, a song of degrees of David states as follows: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aar'on's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Her'mon and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion, For there the LORD commanded the blessing , even life for evermore." (Psalm. 133).This Godly exhortation according to the International Bible Commentary titled, “ALL IN ONE GOD", states as follows: "The opening verse is a wisdom saying which originally discouraged brothers from setting up separate households and so dividing the family estate (cf. Dt. 25: 5). Here it is put into an eider use, as v. 3b and the religious nature of the comparisons in vv. 2-3a reveal. From all over the country pilgrims would converge on Jerusalem to celebrate the festival in worship. The crowded Keswick-like scene was a fine representation of the unity of the covenant community, bound by a common faith. "The gathering in Zion is no mere nationalistic demonstration but the seeking of God's appointed means of grace for the renewal of life in its fullness. FOR (v.3b), justifies the pictures: the PRIESTLY OIL stands for BLESSING and the DEW for LIFE in store for God's family." Except for animals and inorganic elements, all human beings - even idol worshippers - have consciousness of the existence of the LIVING GOD OF HEAVEN who has sovereignty over all of His creation on Earth and who alone must be revered, worshiped and obeyed in all matters of life's situations/circumstances and whose divine Will must always have priority in all matters. (Psalm. 24). God teaches unity of purpose in all endeavours of life as it was in Creation when the TRINITY united to create Man in His image and likeness! (Genesis. 1: 26-28).

RESTRUCTURING OF NIGERIA AS DEMANDED BY CHARLATANS!

1. BIAFRA SECESSION: Col. Odumegu Ojukwu’s act of secession of the Eastern Region (christened "Biafra"), from Nigeria which led to a 30-month-old Nigerian Civil War (16th July, 1967-12th January, 1970). The senseless war claimed an estimated 2 million lives - including many Biafran women and children and cost over $840 million US dollars to prosecute, according to the Federal Military Government! "OJUKWU AND BIAFRA REPUBLIC FAILED"!

2. MOVEMENT FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF THE NIGER DELTA! (MEND): Towards the dying days of military administration in the 90s, a group of restive youths of the Niger Delta extraction took up arms to agitate for EMANCIPATION of the region by violence through destruction of critical crude oil exploration infrastructures as they demanded for higher revenue percentage according to the principles of derivation, until the late President Umaru Ya'Ardua presented the "Olive Branch" through mouth-watering pipelines protection contracts to the warring vandals before peace was temporarily restored! "THE SELFISH AGITATION FOR EMANCIPATION FAILED BUT NIGERIA MATCHES ON IN VICTORY"!

3. BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY: In 2009, a remnant of an Islamic fundamentalist called MAITATSINE which group was suppressed during the 80s and 90s, also resurfaced under a new leader called MOHAMMED YUSUF, with new Islamic ideologies completely opposed to the Muslim norms and practice in Nigeria and also to Western Education as entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. The small group eventually metamorphosed into armed insurgents the moment their leader was extra-judicially killed and for over SEVEN years, the nation had grappled with massive slaughtering of innocent Nigerians of about one million of civilians and soldiers while the terrorists overran 14 Local Government Areas in the North East which they claimed as their CALIPHATE! Today, the story is different because BOKO HARAM has been defeated by the superior power of God's Army, which led the Federal troops to recapture the 14 LGA’s and to destroy all their hide outs in SAMBISA FOREST! "THE TERRORISTS HAVE DISCOVERED THAT NIGERIA CANNOT BE BROKEN BECAUSE IT IS ESTABLISHED BY THE ALMIGHTY GOD WHO IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS AND WHOSE AUTHORITY CAN NEVER BE CHALLENGED!"

4. EX-PRESIDENT EBELE JONATHAN'S 2014 NATIONAL CONFERENCE: That Conference was "cleverly" put together by the ex-President to perpetrate himself in office and elongate the era of corruption with impunity by thieving politicians and greedy government officials, many of who have embezzled so much from the consecutive crooked system and were unmistakably richer than most State Governments! All selected 492 delegates, conference officials and staff CONSUMED AND GULP a sum of about N20 billion naira of the tax-payers monies to cater for accommodation allowances, hotel bills and feeding! They spent about FOUR MONTHS without any new recommendations different from previous similar conferences and even shamelessly referred the controversial/contentious issues of RESOURCE CONTROL AND PRINCIPLES OF DERIVATION FORMULA TO A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL COMMITEE WHICH SHOULD BE SET UP TO DETERMINE THE KNOTTY MATTER! That Government squandered all available collective wealth and bequeathed a virtually EMPTY TREASURY for the in-coming administration to contend with! "THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND JONATHAN WERE DISGRACED AT THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO HAND OVER UNTIL FEW DAYS TO THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT BUHARI!

5. THE CONFEDERATION OF NIGER DELTA CRUDE OIL PIPELINE VANDALS: Pipeline vandals/terrorists began a violent crusade of secession from the rest of Nigeria since the advent of the Change Administration of President Buhari because, according to them, over 80% of the Federal Government's annual revenue was derived from their region while they had nothing in form of social development or infrastructures to show for the oil rich geo-political zone! From  2015 to December 2016, the vandals practically sabotaged Nigeria's economy and forced THREE CONSECUTIVE RECESSIONS on the citizens who had to endure very high inflation on goods and services due to the inordinate ambition of "fellow citizens"!  "IT HAS DAWNED ON THE VARIOUS VANDALS THAT THEY AND THEIR ELDERS WERE COMPETING WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR SELFISH REASONS, AND THAT IS, WHO GETS THE HIGHER BARGAIN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF PIPE LINE PROTECTION CONTRACTS!

6. INDEGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA (IPOB), AND MOVEMENT FOR THE ACTUALIZATION OF THE SOVEREIGN STATE OF BIAFRA (MASSOB): These are a confused and disoriented group of youths who either ignorant of historical facts or are deliberately being mischievous or misguided to continue to waste their precious lives like heathens! They need to be reminded that late Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, the "Biafra Republic" arrow head, was defeated, escaped to Ivory Coast, where he lived on exile until he was granted amnesty - having repented and renounced secession - and eventually returned to Nigeria to collect all of his entitlements in the Nigerian, NOT BIAFRAN ARMY! "IT IS BETTER THEY BACKED OFF AND PITCH THEIR TENT WITH THE WINNING TEAM OF PEACE-LOVING AND LAW ABIDING NIGERIANS WHO BELIEVE IN THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD OVER THE NATION"!

CONSTITUTIONAL AMMENDMENT FOR FISCAL FEDERALISM COULD BE THE SOLUTION!
Patriotic Nigerians and economists have at different forums canvassed for fiscal federalism in which federating States which are economically viable in mineral resources and mining should be at liberty to keep larger percentage of proceeds from internally generated revenue and to remit an agreeable portion to the Federal Government for its overall commitments/services to the federation in respect of defence, currency, immigration, customs, internal security etc. But to achieve this noble suggestion, both the Executive and the Legislature have to agree to reach a consensus to amend the Constitution for legal effect. But until then, SECESSION AGITATORS should realize that NIGERIA'S UNITY IS NON- NEGOTIABLE! NAKED WE CAME INTO THE WORLD, NAKED WE SHALL RETURN!
The lyrics of a Unity Song by Hezekiah Walker is very appropriate to close this treatise: "I need you, you need me, we’re all a part of God's Body; Stand with me, agree with me, it's His will that every need be supplied, you are important to me, I need you to survive. I pray for you, you pray for me, I love you, I won't harm you with the words from my mouth, I love you, I need you to survive." "THY KINGDOM COME; THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. AMEN. (Matthew. 6:10).

Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access, to this newsletter, log on to:  facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com, https://www.google.com/+zionfaithbiblebelievingchurch.

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations.

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor. 08130669886, 08098194390.  08080243066   g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.

BUDGET 2017 WILL OPEN THE DOOR OF PROSPERITY TO HARD-WORKING NIGERIANS!

ZION B-BC   NEWSLETTER.  
(Looking at Nigeria's Political System from a godly Perspective).
A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja Nigeria. [VOL. 6. NO 177. 1st January, 2017.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You   Free! (John.8:32).

BUDGET 2017 WILL OPEN THE DOOR OF PROSPERITY TO HARD-WORKING NIGERIANS!   {2017 NEW YEAR EDITION}

The Utopian Nigeria of which the founding fathers and all patriotic citizens dreamt of, is gradually unfolding even at this austere period, through a divinely-charged Change Administration which, in just nineteen months, has brought smiles to the faces of dejected masses of peasant farmers, artisans, small and medium scale manufacturers/industrialists etc, in spite of the economic recession that was brought about by maladministration of the past! As the year 2016 gradually winds down, Nigerian farmers can now boast of millionaires among their rank and file through government-assisted modern aids of irrigation/fertilization/mechanization; which was not an established norm during the 56 years of independence from 1960. This window of opportunity was sequel to the altruistic stance of the new economic managers who determinedly blocked foreign importation of exotic foods and luxuries meant for the upper-class/ super-rich alone and encouraged made-in-Nigeria products  through large-scale farming of cereals and other staple foods which have now filled the markets at affordable prices. The adoption of the transparent TREASURY SINGLE ACCOUNT (TSA), system which afforded the Federal Government the required leverage to painstakingly monitor the PEOPLES COMMON WEALTH was another advantage introduced to block all loopholes of previous administrations for perpetrating corruption! The manufacturers were not sidelined because those who keyed into government's policy of substitution of imported goods for local materials and have championed the drive for Nigerians to patronized made in Nigeria brands of fashion costumes, fabrics of Ankra, Aso Oke, Adire, Batik, Jewelleries, Shoes, Hats, Caps, Red bricks, Cement, Roofing sheets, Made-In -Nigeria assembled Vehicles and Accessories, Electric Cables/Wirings, House/Car Paints, Industrial Machines, Nigerian-made Farm Tractors and Repair Tool Kits etc, also smiled to the banks with gratitude to God for the Change Agenda policy of turning the economy around to fruition! The President says that if the citizens CHANGED THEIR HABITS, THEY WOULD CHANGE NIGERIA.

The 2017 Budget, tagged, "Economic Recovery and Growth Strategy", closely followed the format of the 2016 Zero-based formula to ensure that all resources were meticulously and prudently managed for the public good.  President Muhammadu Buhari, in his presentation of the 2017 Budget to the joint session of the National Assembly (NASS), on 14th December, 2016, stated categorically that the method was a clear departure from the previous INCREMENTAL BUDGETING METHOD. The President further said that in 2016: Crude Oil benchmark price was pegged at US$38 per barrel; Oil Production at 2.2 million barrels per day and Foreign Exchange Rate at N197 naira to One US Dollar; and on the basis of those assumptions, aggregate revenue was projected at N3.86 trillion, while the expenditure outlay was estimated at N6.06trillion. He admitted that the deficit of N2.2 trillion, which was about 2.14% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), was to be mainly financed through borrowing. It is no longer news to citizens of Nigeria that there was a deliberate plan by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sabotage the economy in vengeance for their woeful defeat at the 2015 General Elections through surrogates who organized large-scale vandalization of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta Region in order to decimate daily oil revenue accruable to the Federal Government, and they partially succeeded but the strong-willed and determined administration of President Buhari, did not succumb to the blackmail, but prudently managed the dwindling oil resources, plugged all wastages in government expenses, unmasked ghost workers, ensured that all monies were paid into the TSA and was still able to save some monies from foreign exports to boost the almost empty foreign reserves!
It is in record that the Niger Delta Avengers terrorists and their criminal accomplices vandalized over 47 Oil Pipelines and installations between 2015/2016, and that Nigeria lost N2.3 trillion in both infrastructural/critical assets, but in spite of the large scale destruction, Federal Government was able to raise the Foreign Reserves Account to $25.4 billion, as at 16th December, 2016!  According to the President, the disruptions in crude oil production led to significant drop and shortfalls in projected revenue which in turn contributed to the economic slow down which negatively affected revenue collection by Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and had reduced prorated projections by N2.17 trillion or 25%, as at 30th September, 2016 and similarly, N3.58 trillion, which was equivalent to 79% of the prorated full year expenditure estimate of N4.54 trillion which had been spent by the same date on both recurrent and capital expenditure! In spite of all the challenges, government was able to meet debt service obligations, personnel/overhead costs and capital expenditure, which though suffered FIVE months administrative/bureaucratic delay, got the highest release in recent history, a sum of N753.6 billion, by the end of October, 2016 which exceeded the capital expenditure for the year 2015! It is also note worthy that the TWO Change Administration Budgets are people-oriented, especially at this period of economic recession when emphasis is on diversification to the agricultural/solid minerals, industrial/manufacturing and entertainment /tourism sectors which would benefit immensely from the quick financial intervention that would produce good motorable roads/railways for farmers/business entrepreneurs, new terminals at four major airports, key power transmission projects, and fast-track the modernization of Lagos-Kano, Calabar-Lagos, Ajaokuta-Itakpe-Warri, Lagos-Abuja,Kaduna-Abuja railway projects, out of the numerous major projects, which would continue into the 2017 fiscal year. The Economic Recovery  and Growth Strategy in 2007 is designed to ease out recession and place the Nigerian masses who have been terribly traumatized to now taste the benefit of prosperity and financial growth through their ingenuity in all areas of creativity, talents and resilience which would continue to be supported with great incentives by government.

THE 2017 BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS, REVENUES, PROJECTIONS AND FISCAL DEFICIT OF N7.298 TRILLION.
Government's Budget assumption is based on a benchmark crude oil price of US$ 42.5 per barrel; oil production estimate of 2.2million barrels per day (bpd), and an average exchange rate of N305 naira to 1 US dollar, which translates to an aggregate revenue of N4.94trillion that should be available to fund the Federal budget, which is 28% higher than 2016 full year projections. Although, key capital spending provisions in the budget include those of Power, Works and Housing (N529bn), Transportation (N262bn), Special Intervention Programmes (N150bn), Defence (N140bn), Water Resources (N85bn), Industry Trade and Investment (N81bn), Interior (N63bn), Education (N50bn), Universal Basic Education Commission (N92bn), Health (N51bn), Federal Capital Territory (N37bn), Niger Delta Ministry (N33bn), and Niger Delta Development Commission (N61bn), AGRICULTURE remained government's priority to diversify the economy through an historic high allocation of N92 billion, which will complement the existing efforts of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), and a handful of Commercial Banks, to boost agricultural productivity through increased intervention funding of N600 billion, at a single digit interest rate under the Anchor Borrowers Programme to push the nation towards FOOD SUFFICIENCY in three years especially when the Nigeria-Morocco Fertilizer Production Joint Venture signed on 2nd December,2016, would have been on full steam to also create thousands of jobs and save the nation $US 200 million dollars in foreign exchange and over N60 billion in fertilizer subsidy! Since FISCAL DEFICIT is not a strange revamping strategy for reflating an economy in recession, government would finance the deficit of N2.36 trillion of the 2017 Budget (which is about 2.18% of the GDP), mainly by borrowing N1.067 trillion, (about 46% of the loan), from external sources while, N1.254 trillion, would be borrowed from domestic market Expenditure Estimates.

STATUTORY TRANSFER FAVOURS JUDICIARY WHICH IS THE LAST HOPE OF THE COMMON MAN!
It is worthy of note that the 2017 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE of N2.24 trillion, which includes capital in Statutory Transfers, was deliberately jacked up to favour the Judiciary which allocation was raised from N70 billion to N100 billion in order to enhance its independence and enable it perform its functions effectively. A significant portion of the RECURRENT EXPENDITURE was allocated for Payment of Salaries and Overheads of Institutions that provide critical public services as follows: (1) Ministry of Interior, N482.37 billion; (2) Ministry of Education (N398.01 billion); (3) Ministry of Defence (N325.87 billion); Ministry of Health (N252.87 billion); while N1.8 trillion was estimated for Government's Personnel Costs with greater emphasis on eliminating GHOST WORKERS through the perfected Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS). In addition, government has tasked the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, to cut certain overhead costs by 20% in order to eliminate all non-essential costs so as to garner more resources to fund Capital Expenditure. From all of the above analysis, the 2017 People-Oriented and Socialist-inclined Budget, if properly supported, monitored and implemented, with the tacit support of the National Assembly, will break the jinx of poverty in Nigeria because the demands of the urban consumer would henceforth be focussed on local production of processed foods,  dairy products, tomato pastes, garment manufacturing, tailoring/haberdasheries, fashion designer outfits, cement production and petrochemicals through refining of our crude oil etc, by rural industrial entrepreneurs who would clamour that we consume what we produce and simultaneously eliminate joblessness and by extension YOUTH RESTIVENESS, permanently!  Life of the 2016 Budget Estimates (which is over 50% executed), will statutorily extend into May 2017, we believe that the determination with which the Buhari Administration is executing all major capital projects it should achieve over 80% by that period and that INHERITED LEGACY CONTRACTORS LIABILITIES which dated back to about 10 years and to which about N2 trillion naira had been earmarked, according to the President, would be meticulously verified so that only LEGITIMATE CLAIMS would be accommodated and that Federal Government's electricity bills DEBT would also be authenticated and paid to inject funds into the Power Sector for further improvement in service delivery to members of the public. President Buhari needs all citizens to support these lofty 2017 Budget proposals which will benefit the rural farmers, manufacturers, engineers, marketers, market women, petty traders, the Okada (commercial motorcycle) Riders, cabs,  buses, trucks, trailers and articulate vehicle drivers, health workers, educationists, information technologists, etc, (the real drivers of Nigeria's economic future), and collectively move this great nation out of a SELF-IMPOSED RECESSION into an ELDORADO (a land flowing with milk and honey), as it is written, "A HOUSE THAT IS BUILT ON THE ROCK WOULD SURELY STAND FIRM AND RIGID, EVEN IN THE EVENT OF HEAVY STORMS OR TSUNAMIES! The ball is now in the court of patriotic, dedicated, hard-working and diligent Nigerian citizens, who must now put all hands on deck, ignore all CLULESS ARM-CHAIR CRITICS of Nigeria's Change Administration and join in the crusade to get the ECONOMY out of the woods!
AS AT 29TH DECEMBER, 2016, THE INTERNATIONAL CRUDE OIL PRICE ROSE TO $US 56 DOLLARS PER BARREL - AN INDICATION THAT THE 2017 BUDGET - PREDICATED AT $US 42.5 DOLLARS WOULD GAIN $US 13.5 DOLLARS ON EACH BARREL TO OFF-SET THE PROPOSED FISCAL DEFICIT OF N2.36 TRILLION NAIRA AND BOOST CAPITAL EXPENDITURE; IF THE NIGER DELTA TERRORISTS WOULD SHEATH THEIR SWORDS AND DESIST FROM DESTROYING NATIONAL ASSETS THROUGH VANDALIZATION OF OIL PIPELINES! We wish all our Esteemed Readers and Followers a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access, to this newsletter, log on to:  facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com, https://www.google.com/+zionfaithbiblebelievingchurch.

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations.

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor. 08130669886, 08098194390.  08080243066   g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.