Latest news with #AnnualGeneralConference
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Refund our 300 million naira - inside Rivers goment response to di Bar Association
Rivers State goment say make di Nigerian Bar Association NBA refund di 300 million naira ($186,000) wey dem pay for hosting rights as dem shift dia annual conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu. Dis one dey for statement wey Hector Igbikiowubo, SSA Media to di Rivers State Goment sing to react to di NBA earlier Statement. E say di reason why dem shift dia annual conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu, sake of di emergency rule for di State dey affect democracy and di rule of law, dey misleading and e no fit a professional bodi like dem. On Friday 10 April, 2025, di umbrella body for lawyers for Nigeria, di NBA announce say dem don shift dia annual conference wey for hold for Port Harcourt to Enugu sake of di "suspension of democratically elected state officials by di President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Goment. Di NBA statement wey di President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN); General Secretary, Dr Mobolaji Ojibara and Chairman of di Annual General Conference AGC Planning Committee, Emeka Obegolu (SAN) follow sign, say: "di NBA no fit, in good conscience, proceed wit di AGC for a state wey dey governed unconstitutionally by a Sole Administrator." Dis statement by di NBA cause plenty reaction as pipo lament di loss of business opportunities wey dis shift of di NBA conference dey cost to businesses for di State. But di Rivers State goment say even though di NBA get right to determine di venue of dia events, dem no gree wit di reasons dem give for dia decision - particularly di insinuation say di Sole Administrator actions dey undermine democracy and di rule of law, as dat wan no dey fair. Di reason for di state of emergency Di Rivers State Goment explain say di NBA dey overlook di constitutional basis of di current administration as state of emergency na a necessary response to check a breakdown of public order and democratic processes. E say President Bola Tinubu, as e exercise im constitutional authority, act in di best interest of di state to restore stability. So di Sole Administrator mandate dey clear: to oversee a transitional period wey go ensure di return of full democratic governance in line with di Constitution. "To suggest say dis intervention "dey flout di rule of law" no only dey incorrect but e dey ignore di Supreme Court rulings wey validate key decisions wey e don make during dis period.' E refer di association to di landmark judgment of di Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/CV/1176/2024 (Rivers State House of Assembly & Oda vs. Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) & Nine Odas), wia di apex court rule say any local goment election wey dey conducted in violation of di Electoral Act dey "unconstitutional, null, and void.' Di statement say di Sole Administrator don stand by im commitment to: - Restore democratic institutions as soon as e dey practicable. - Uphold di constitutional rights of all residents, including freedom of movement, speech, and association. - Respect judicial pronouncements, including those of di Supreme Court, wey dey guided di administration actions. E add say di NBA, as a body of legal minds, suppose know better than to reduce a complex constitutional matter to political sensationalism. 'We dey committed to democracy' Di Rivers State Goment add say e dey wonda say di NBA, despite dia "principled position"— no address di refund of di N300 million wey di goment don already pay for di hosting rights of di 2025 conference. "If di NBA truly stand on principle, make dem demonstrate di same integrity by promptly returning dis funds rather than benefiting from a state wey dem dey publicly discredit." Di statement come appeal for constructive engagement as Rivers State dey pass through a challenging but necessary phase for dia democratic journey. "So instead of contributing to unnecessary tension, we expect di NBA - as a critical stakeholder for Nigeria democracy - to engage constructively, offer solutions instead of amplifying divisive narratives, as di Sole Administrator dey focused on im mandate to stabilize the state and facilitate a smooth return to full constitutional governance.' e tok.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Latter-day Saint membership passed 17.5 million in 2024, according to a new church statistical report
The worldwide membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints grew to 17,509,781 as of Dec. 31, 2024. The net increase of 254,387 church members was revealed in the church's annual statistical report issued during the Saturday afternoon session of the faith's 195th Annual General Conference. The church's membership numbered: 17,255,394 at the end of 2023. 17,002,461 at the end of 2022. 16,805,400 at the end of 2021. 16,663,663 at the end of 2020. 16,565,036 at the end of 2019. 16,313,735 at the end of 2018. Other statistics from Saturday's report: 31,676 congregations, up 186 from the year before. 3,608 stakes, up 43 from the previous year. 450 missions, up 36 from 2023. 494 districts, an increase of five. 91,617 new children of record, down 1,977 from the previous year. 308,682 converts baptized, up 56,919 from 2023. 74,127 full-time proselyting missionaries, up 6,256 from the previous year. 35,312 church service missionaries, up 3,627 from last year. The statistical report noted that the church had 194 temples in operation at the end of 2024, up from 186 at the end of 2023. The church's membership continues to become more international. Since 1998, the majority of Latter-day Saints have been outside the United States and Canada. At the end of 2022, the church had 7,004,864 members in the United States and Canada. Church leaders have said they anticipate that by 2025, Latin America alone will have as many church members as the United States and Canada. At the end of 2022, the church had a combined 6,815,516 members in Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. The full 2024 statistical report released on Saturday is available here. Here are the five previous reports: 2023 report. 2022 report. 2021 report. 2020 report. 2019 report.
