THE continuing spiral in the global economy along with the now established penchant of the Yar' Adua administration to engage in thorough and meticulous planning may have presently combined in guaranteeing that the 2009 budget would not be passed this year.
The Pointer checks reveal that with Presidency, National Planning Ministry and Budget Office staff still making daily changes to the draft document and with one arm of the National Assembly, namely the Senate, presently on retreat, it is now becoming almost impossible to carry out and conclude the necessary checks at committee, Senate and house levels that necessarily attend the appropriation process before the close of the 2008 legislative year.
Our checks reveal that indeed part of the problem had emanated from the continuing spiral in the global economy. With the price of crude oil in the international market slumping to a season's low of $52.16 per barrel at the close of the week, the Budget office had been hard put to further revise its initial projections which had been put at $59 before it was initially lowered to $45 dollars.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE WATCH
A PECK FOR ORPHANS

Environment
Africa, UN Agencies Partner to Combat Environmental Challenges

PLATFORM
Another teacher’s day is here

FOR THE RECORD
COMMUNIQUE OF THE FIRST DELTA STATE INFORMATION SUMMIT

WOMAN TO WOMAN
Hints to men who want to marry

BUSINESS
Big firms groan under huge tax on profits

WORLD NEWS
ANC, Mbeki, Azania and Africa

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (right) with Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria, Mr. Keith Richard, during the Honorary International Investors Council Meeting held in Abuja.

SPORTS WORLD
Priemier league killing Nigerian football 2

FASHION
Tips to a good watch

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Natural gas: The next alternative fuel?

FOR THE RECORD
Constitutional and legal basis of urban development in nigeria

PERSPECTIVE
Pa Bello and his 86 wives; Religion and my society.

RELATIONSHIP
Finding trust in a co-dependent relationship.

EDUCATION
UNIPORT VC promises
collaboration with alumni body

25 robbers, 6 commercial
sex workers turn to Christ

TWENTY-FIVE armed robbers and six commercial sex workers were among the numerous converts that gave their lives during the just concluded Divine Ordination Thanksgiving of Rt. Rev. Evang. Daniel Dikeji Meyerijesu as the Bishop of the whole world, organized by members of God's Grace Ministry Inc.
Speaking with newsmen at the end of the seven-day programme in Warri/Shiloh City the land of the Miracles, Eyara/Imode Towns, Ughelli South local government area, Delta State, the Founder and Bishop of God's Grace Ministry Inc. World wide, Bishop Miyerijesu stated that physical powers cannot change armed robbers who are known to be using all forms of black powers.
Bishop Miyerijesu opined that it was only divine powers that could permanently change armed robbers and commercial sex workers, noting that the government had failed in this direction because they only depend on physical powers.

Ethically-strong media, panacea to Nigeria’s true statehood – NBA President

NIGERIA’S quest for true statehood will be a mirage without an ethically-strong media, President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said.
Akeredolu made the submission recently while speaking at an inaugural lecture and the formal launch of Media Ethics Organisation (MEO), an NGO, in Lagos.
He spoke on the topic “Media and the Challenges of Statehood.”
“Nigeria had failed to attain nationhood because of successive bad leadership over the years and its inability to produce a leadership that inspires people to achieve the status of a nation.
“Past Nigerian leaders had, over the years, not been responsive to the yearnings of its citizenry because of the absence of legitimacy and accountability,” he said.
Akeredolu, who was represented by the NBA Assistant Secretary, Mr. Francis Ekwere, said that the media were in a better stead to help Nigeria produce the right leadership in all facets and sectors.