By Iloke Egbe
The Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cross River State Planning Commission, Dr Bong Duke has asserted that the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) is an indigenous religious body to the State and the State is very pleased to own such development given the religious tourism it command to the State.
He said the Government is ready to calendar Events of BCS in their programmes given the mantra of His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu which is people’s first.
The Vice Chairman stated this when he granted audience to members of the Central Working Committee of Christ Universal Mercy Fellowship and Christ Universal Welfare Fellowship 2024 joint Anniversary while on a courtesy visit to his office, New Secretariat Complex Calabar.
He said the Government is concerned with the provisions of the needed environment to ensure peace and security, good roads and the social amenities that are the responsibility of the Government to the people.
The State is striving to give visitors good taste and aesthetics, therefore partnership with BCS will help the State with more data for proper planning while calling on BCS members to encourage their breastfeeding mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding.
In his words, he said “We need to hear more from BCS and collaborate as you carry out your outreach activities. We know BCS has a wide membership and areas we can partner to provide more critical manpower to the State.”
According to the vice chairman, “CRS has an architectural development plan drawing from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and each Local Government’s specific plans are in process, no more blankets plan,” this approach he said “is to ensure direct impact on the people as it focuses on demand approach and not supply driving.”
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In her contributions, the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mrs Mbong Atu-Ausaji said the State need data on the number of delivery homes and birth attendants operated by BCS and the number of deaths to enable the Government to know how and when to assist.
Earlier, the leader of the BCS team, Matriarch Christ Shepherd Ronke Aluko said they were sent by the Holy Father to visit corporate bodies and that those working there are children of God serving God’s children and in particular the planning commission.
She acknowledged the positive disposition of the Government under His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu in regard to development and Staff of the commission stating that planning is very important in development.
The joint Anniversary is to provide care and welfare support to the human family mostly the needy and vulnerable groups in the society including the provisions of skills acquisition Training with humanitarian activities through the distribution of palliatives to members of the society.
According to MCS Aluko, this year’s Anniversary has Caregiving an Embodiment of Christhood as its theme and has brought in members from different states and nations. The ambience of the visit was cordial and featured questions and answers from both parties.
In attendance were a cross-section of the Anniversary Central Working Committee members and management of SPC.
