THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍˇËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡
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NEWSXTRA
Pope Appoints Benue Priest‘Chaplain of His Holiness’ Head of the Papalcy, Pope Francis has formally announced the appointment of apriestofMakurdi,BenueState, Diocese, Rev. Fr. Stephen Beba, as ‘Chaplain of His Holiness,’ News Agency of Nigeria has reported. AChaplain of His Holiness is a priest to whom the Pope has granted this title. They are addressed as Monsignor and have certain privileges with respect to ecclesiastical dress
and vestments. His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop ofAbuja, made the announcement during the 25th Priestly Anniversary of the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi, Most Rev Wilfred Anagbe, in Makurdi. FatherBebawasbornin1945 and was said to be among the first group of seven Tiv priests ordained on December 29, 1971, and is the only survivor of the group. According to
Onaiyekan, the certificate and letter was dated October 29, 2019 and was signed by the Pope. Others ordained with him
were late Bishop Emeritus of Makurdi, Most RevdAthanasius Usuh, former governor of Benue State Father Moses Adasu,FatherBenjaminAdzor,
Father Dominic Yuhe, Father Edward Maer and Father Simon Ivever. NAN reports that Beba becomes the first priest to be honoured with the title of
Monsignorsincethecreationof theMakurdiDioceseonApril2, 1959,andispresentlytheParish Priest of Saint Mary’s Parish, North Bank, Makurdi.
PDP to Senate: Don’t Pass VAT Increase Bill ChuksOkocha Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Senate to assert its independence and refuse to allow the President Muhammadu Buhari-led executive to railroad it into passing the anti-people Value Added Tax (VAT) increase bill, which has been rejected by Nigerians. The party in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, expressed concerns that the bill has been hurriedly passed through second reading in the Senate even when the details were not made available to lawmakers.
The PDP noted that the failure to avail the details of the bill to the lawmakers confirms its toxicity to the polity. The party urged the Senate leadership to bear in mind that Nigerians had rejected the bill, which is designed by the Buhari Presidency to increase VAT from 5% per cent to excruciating 7.5% not minding its attendant adverse economic effect on Nigerians. According to PDP, "Such planned increase in VAT is insensitive, suppressive and if anything, will further impoverish Nigerians and worsen the prevailing agonising economic situation in the country.
BUDGET THINGS... L-R: Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu , during the presentation of the Y2020 Budget Estimate at the Hallowed Chamber of the Assembly Complex, Alausa...yesterday