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Adeboye free to return as nat’l GO as FG suspends law that caused his retirement

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The contentious Corporate Governance Code issued on October 17 by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria that caused the abrupt retirement of Pastor Enoch Adeboye as Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) General Overseer has been suspended.

FRC, which is one of the parastatals under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, is in charge of setting and promoting compliance with standards for accounting, financial reporting and auditing in Nigeria. It also regulates the practices of professionals involved in financial reporting and promotes good practices in financial reporting and corporate governance in Nigeria.

The body which guides all registered churches, mosques, and CSOs had in a new legal requirements stipulated that heads of non-profit organisations like churches, will only have a maximum period of twenty years to lead their organisations while in retirement, they are not permitted to hand over to their families.

Following this regulation Pastor Adeboye on Saturday abruptly announced his retirement as RCCG Nigerian chapter General Overseer.

Read also: 2 days after Adeboye’s resignation Buhari fires FRC secretary

However, the Federal Government on Monday in a statement by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, suspended the Corporate Governance Code.

The statement said that “The Corporate Governance Code issued by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria has been suspended, pending a detailed review, extensive consultation with stakeholders and reconstitution of the board of the FRC.

“Government remains committed to restoring and enhancing market confidence and improving the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.

“Government is committed to strengthening FRC and enhancing its capacity to fulfill its core mandate,” the statement reads in parts.

With the latest development, the coast is clear for Pastor Adeboye to return as the Nigerian overseer of the church if he and the church council so desires.

The rumble within FRC which eventually consumed its Secretary, Board and saw to the suspension of the corporate governance code has been linked to the alleged refusal of its former Secretary, Jim Obazee, to heed directives from Minister Enelama to put its implementation in abeyance.

Obazee reportedly shunned directives because he had argued that there was no superior law yet gazetted to upturn government’s earlier stance on the corporate governance code, especially as it concerns churches or other not-for-profit organizations (NGOs).

Sources familiar with the development, however, say that government’s move was deliberate and intended to court the church which is seen as a critical and influential community in the country.

It would have amounted to political suicide, analysts say, if the government did not retrace its steps as there had been immediate but quiet grumblimgs within the ranks of the Pentecostal movement in Nigeria.

 

 

 

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0 Comments

  1. Roland Uchendu Pele

    January 10, 2017 at 7:13 am

    Really, I never knew Pastor Adeboye stepped down in adherence to a Federal Law. Such humility is one of a kind. How the State should have control over the Church is hardly acceptable.

    • chichi emerue

      January 10, 2017 at 1:59 pm

      You people should stop saying thrash. It wasn’t the new regulations that made Pastor Adeboye retires, he had promised to stepped down before then.

  2. JOHNSON PETER

    January 10, 2017 at 8:37 am

    The question is that, is a church a business enterprise? I tire what church is turning into?

  3. Margret Dickson

    January 10, 2017 at 8:43 am

    Th Corporate Governance Code is evil and an attack on Christianity in Nigeria. It should not only be suspended, but be burnt to ashes.

  4. Animashaun Ayodeji

    January 10, 2017 at 8:46 am

    I don’t blame the government for coming up with such code, churches have turned into profit making organisations. Pastors are not supposed to be porr, but when a pastor can afford to live life like a corrupt politician, it is outrageous

  5. seyi jelili

    January 10, 2017 at 9:16 am

    Some times fayose ‘s anointing by baba Adeboye is working. Fayose prayed that the God of Adeboye and Kumuyi will fight for the church of GOD in Nigeria and truly It has happened. They have reversed their silly laws

  6. yanju omotodun

    January 10, 2017 at 9:41 am

    Why won’t government regulate church activities when church has been turn in to full business enterprise. Church is now a merchandise, to the extent they go about instituting schools and higher institutions which the poor can’t afford.
    Well it is well.

  7. Joy Madu

    January 10, 2017 at 1:53 pm

    Am sure this law was first enacted by an infidel who sees religion as a nuisance. My Daddy G. O remains the daddy of RCCG, the new G. O still remains his assistant.

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