Text: 1 Kings 6:29-38

6:29 Then he carved all the walls of the temple all around, both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. 

6:30    And the floor of the temple he overlaid with gold, both the inner and outer sanctuaries.

6:31  For the entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors of olive wood; the lintel and doorposts were ^[p]one-fifth of the wall

6:32    The two doors were of olive wood; and he carved on them figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.

6:33 So for the door of the ^[q]sanctuary he also made doorposts of olive wood, ^[r]one-fourth of the wall.

6:34  And the two doors were of cypress wood; two panels comprised one folding door, and two panels comprised the other folding door.

6:35 Then he carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on them, and overlaid them with gold applied evenly on the carved work.

6:36  And he built the inner court with three rows of hewn stone and a row of cedar beams.

6:37  In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of ^[s]Ziv.

6:38  And in the eleventh year, in the month of ^[t]Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it.

STUDY:

Verse 38 of our text notes that the period of time spent in building the temple was seven years. Solomon ensured that the project was never abandoned, the greatness of the task notwithstanding, until it was brought to completion. If we follow the story of the temple-building from its foundation to completion, we will discover that it was a vast and elegant project. Hence, Solomon had to engage a labour force numbering thousands of men (1 Kings 5:13- 18), to bring the project to completion. Solomon’s seriousness, coupled with the many hands employed to execute the project, ensured the work was completed.

We should learn to give the work of God put in our charge the seriousness it requires. We are assured that every good work God begins in us, He will bring to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6). What is your attitude to that ongoing building project in your parish, Diocese, or National Church? Are you committing your time, energy and resources towards its completion? Again, the various groups we belong to in church, are God’s work (projects) and we must give our attention to them. God’s work must never be abandoned. Solomon leaves us an example to follow.

Prayer: 

Father, help me to build my life in the faith according to your pattern.

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The procedure was performed over the weekend by the Redeemer’s Health Village in Mowe, Ogun State, in collaboration with RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja.

The surgery, a right radical nephrectomy, involved surgeons at the Redeemer’s Health Village controlling a surgical robot at the Abuja hospital through an internet connection.

Telerobotic surgery, also known as remote surgery, allows surgeons to perform operations on patients from a different location using robotic technology.

Speaking after the procedure, the Chief Executive Officer of the Redeemer’s Health Village, Dr Adedamola Dada, described the development as a major milestone for Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

“It’s a huge breakthrough, and then of course, it is the first time telesurgery is done in West Africa,” Dada said.

He explained that the robotic system at the Abuja hospital was connected to the control system at the Redeemer’s Health Village, allowing the surgical team in Ogun State to carry out the procedure remotely.

According to him, the technology could eventually make it possible for specialists outside Nigeria to operate on patients in the country, particularly in cases where the required expertise is not readily available locally.

“What this simply means is that for very complicated cases where we don’t even have the manpower in the country, surgeons can stay in the United States and operate on that patient here,” he said.

The health facility also carried out a robotic-assisted pyeloplasty on a 28-year-old patient on the same day.

Dada explained that the procedure involved reconstructing the renal pelvis and removing an obstruction to allow urine to flow normally.

He said the successful outcome demonstrated the potential of robotic technology to improve the treatment of complex medical conditions in Nigeria.

However, Dada called for greater government investment in training medical professionals in robotic surgery, noting that the availability of equipment alone would not be enough to sustain the technology.

He said more Nigerian surgeons, nurses, biomedical engineers and other specialists needed to be trained to operate and support robotic surgical systems.

“Most of the time, the equipment is really not a challenge; the challenge now is the manpower,” he said.

Dada urged the Federal Government to provide scholarships and other forms of support for Nigerians interested in specialised training in robotic surgery.

He said developing a strong pool of local professionals would help ensure that Nigeria could sustain and expand the use of robotic surgery in the coming years.

Also speaking, the robotic surgeon who led the procedure, Prof. Obi Davies-Ekwenna, said the development demonstrated how technology could help overcome geographical barriers to specialised healthcare.

Davies-Ekwenna said the team successfully operated on a patient in Abuja while working from the Redeemer’s Health Village in Ogun State.

“We were able to operate on a patient in Abuja, 500 kilometres away. We were able to operate on a patient with a kidney tumour, a cancer tumour. And so that was successful,” he said.

According to him, the technology could improve access to specialists both within Nigeria and internationally, allowing patients in locations without certain specialists to receive complex procedures remotely.

“It means access to experts from within and outside the country. Telesurgery can be done from any part of the world with precision, with excellent results,” he said.

The Chairman of the Redeemer’s Health Village Board, Dr Kunle Onokoya, said robotic surgery was also expanding the range of procedures that could be performed safely.

He noted that some operations previously considered too risky or difficult to perform could now be carried out with the assistance of robotic technology.

“The kind of surgery that otherwise would have been inoperable, meaning that the risk from surgery was too great, is now being done with robot-assisted surgery,” Onokoya said.

PUNCH

The council also demanded the immediate payment of a fresh Wage Award and an upward review of salaries and allowances for public servants at the federal, state and local government levels.

The demands were contained in a letter to President Tinubu signed by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga.

The workers said the recent increase in petrol prices, which they said had reached N1,430 per litre or more in some areas, had further increased the financial pressure on workers and other Nigerians.

According to the council, successive increases in fuel prices since the removal of petrol subsidy had contributed to higher transportation costs and triggered increases in the prices of food, housing, healthcare, education and other essential services.

The JNPSNC therefore called on the Federal Government to establish a “fuel intervention fund” to help stabilise petrol prices and make the commodity more affordable.

It said the government should not be discouraged by the use of the word subsidy if such an intervention could reduce the hardship being experienced by citizens.

“The Federal Government should provide intervention that will trickle down to all Nigerians by making fuel available with affordable amount as low as N500,” the council stated.

The workers argued that stabilising petrol prices would have a wider impact on the economy because of the role of fuel in transportation, food distribution, production and other economic activities.

The council also supported the Nigeria Labour Congress’ proposals for protecting Nigerians from fluctuations in the international oil market.

It backed the call for the Federal Government to supply sufficient crude oil in naira to local refineries and increase the country’s petroleum storage capacity.

The council said such measures could support local production, create employment opportunities and contribute to addressing economic and security challenges.

Wage award, salary review

The JNPSNC also urged President Tinubu to approve an immediate Wage Award and review the salaries and allowances of public servants.

It said the rising cost of living had reduced the purchasing power of workers and affected their ability to meet basic financial responsibilities.

“Many workers are now struggling to meet basic financial obligations, which has inevitably affected the morale, motivation, and overall productivity within the Public Service,” the council said.

It consequently called on the President to direct the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to begin discussions with the NLC, Trade Union Congress, JNPSNC and other relevant stakeholders on the proposed Wage Award and salary review.

According to the council, the Wage Award should be implemented immediately as a temporary measure pending a substantive review of the National Minimum Wage.

Workers propose N500,000 minimum salary

The civil servants also called for the immediate constitution of a committee to begin negotiations for the 2027 National Minimum Wage.

They proposed N500,000 as the minimum monthly salary for an officer on Grade Level 01 Step 1, saying the figure would better reflect current economic conditions.

The council urged the government to begin negotiations early enough for the new wage to take effect from January 2027.

It also called for harmonised wages across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, while urging state and local governments to adopt similar measures.

The workers further proposed regular cost-of-living adjustments to salaries and allowances, arguing that wages should be reviewed periodically in line with inflation to prevent workers’ purchasing power from declining between wage-review cycles.

They also called for subsidised transportation and affordable housing schemes for public servants.

Workers reject food palliatives

The JNPSNC criticised the reliance on food palliatives as the main response to the economic hardship, describing such interventions as temporary and insufficient.

It argued that the government should instead implement measures capable of reducing transportation and production costs and improving the purchasing power of workers and other citizens.

The council said improving workers’ welfare was necessary not only to address economic hardship but also to maintain industrial harmony and improve public service delivery.

It stated that an upward review of public servants’ salaries and allowances was necessary to sustain the workforce and improve productivity.

Workers set September 30 deadline

The JNPSNC urged President Tinubu to respond to its demands on or before September 30, 2026, warning that urgent action was needed to ease the growing tension among workers.

The council also expressed hope that the President would address some of its concerns in his Independence Day broadcast.

It maintained that public servants remained essential to the functioning of government and national development, and called for their welfare to receive greater attention amid the prevailing economic challenges.

Ruto disclosed this on Monday after meeting with Dangote, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Industries, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Finance Corporation, Samaila Zubairu, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.

The meeting focused on financing arrangements and other preparations required for the commencement of the refinery project.

According to Ruto, the refinery is expected to strengthen energy security across East Africa, create employment opportunities and support industrial development in the region.

“We are ready to break ground on the East Africa refinery in Lamu, a transformative project that will enhance the region’s energy security, deepen local value addition, create jobs and advance our industrialisation agenda,” he said.

The Kenyan president added that the project would open up new economic opportunities while strengthening regional supply chains and positioning East Africa as an energy and industrial hub.

He said his administration was committed to moving the project beyond the planning stage and ensuring that it delivers tangible economic benefits to the people.

“We are focused on turning this landmark project into reality and delivering tangible benefits for the people of the region,” Ruto said.

The proposed Lamu refinery is estimated to cost about Sh2.2 trillion ($17 billion) and is expected to have a crude oil processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.

When completed, the refinery is expected to serve markets across East and Central Africa and form part of Kenya’s broader plan to develop Lamu into an energy, industrial and logistics hub.

The affected areas are Barkin-Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas.

The directive was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joyce Ramnap.

According to the statement, the curfew took effect on Monday, September 21, 2026, and restricts movement between 6:00pm and 6:00am daily until further notice.

“The Plateau State Government has declared an immediate, dusk-to-dawn curfew across Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas to maintain public order and curb emerging security threats in the region,” the statement said.

The government said the measure was introduced to give security agencies the opportunity to restore normalcy and prevent further deterioration of the security situation.

It consequently directed residents in the three affected local government areas to comply with the restriction and plan their daily activities around the curfew hours.

The government urged residents to take the directive seriously and avoid activities that could lead to unnecessary hardship or confrontation during the restricted period.

“Therefore, all residents of affected Local Government Areas are expected to fully comply with the government’s directive for their own safety,” the statement added.

The government also announced a ban on the use of motorcycles within the affected jurisdictions and directed security agencies to enforce both the curfew and the motorcycle restriction.

“So far, security operatives have been directed to strictly enforce the curfew and the ban on use of motor cycles with immediate effect throughout the affected jurisdiction,” Ramnap said.

She, however, assured law abiding residents that security personnel deployed to enforce the measures would operate professionally.

The curfew will remain in place until further notice, with the state government expected to review the restriction based on developments in the security situation across the three local government areas.

Text: 1 Kings 6:14-28

6:14    So Solomon built the temple and finished it. 

6:15   And he built the inside walls of the temple with cedar boards; from the floor of the temple to the ceiling he paneled the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the temple with planks of cypress.

6:16  Then he built the twenty-cubit room at the rear of the temple, from floor to ceiling, with cedar boards; he built it inside as the inner sanctuary, as the Most Holy Place.

6:17    And in front of it the temple sanctuary was forty cubits long.

6:18 The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with ornamental buds and open flowers. All was cedar; there was no stone to be seen.

6:19 And he prepared the ^[n]inner sanctuary inside the temple, to set the ark of the covenant of the Lord there.

6:20 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, and overlaid the altar of cedar. ²¹

6:21 So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold. He stretched gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold. 

6:22 The whole temple he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the temple; also he overlaid with gold the entire altar that was by the inner sanctuary.

6:23  Inside the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.

6:24 One wing of the cherub was five cubits, and the other wing of the cherub five cubits: ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other. 

6:25 And the other cherub was ten cubits; both cherubim were of the same size and shape. 

6:26  The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was the other cherub.

6:27 Then he set the cherubim inside the inner ^[o]room; and they stretched out the wings of the cherubim so that the wing of the one touched one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall. And their wings touched each other in the middle of the room. 

6:28 Also he overlaid the cherubim with gold.

STUDY:

Beautiful things put smiles on people’s faces and joy in their hearts. We read that the temple interior had walls that were partitioned with cedar from floor to ceiling so that no exterior stones could be seen. The inner sanctuary was covered with pure gold, all of which made the whole place extremely beautiful. Whenever worshipers gathered in the beautiful inner sanctuary to worship the LORD, they were stirred to rejoice (Psa. 16:11). David, who made many of the plans of the temple building (1 Chron. 22), captures for us the beauty of the temple that should make someone rejoice: He says, “One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple” (Psa. 27:4).

Like David, your sure reward will be rejoicing, if you desire tc behold the beauty of the LORD by being regular in church service (cf Heb 10:25); spending quality time in meditating on the Bible and praying without ceasing (Josh. 1:8; 1 Thess. 5:17); being desirous to live a life of holiness (1 Pet. 1:16); and determining to keep your body (temple) undefiled (beautiful) like Solomon’s beautiful temple (cf 1 Cor. 3:16).

Prayer: 

Father; may I continue to desire to behold your beauty daily. Amen.

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Bishop Odedeji gave the warning on Monday while delivering a sermon titled “Faithfulness” at the 2026/2027 New Legal Year Special Service of the Lagos State Judiciary, held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos.

Speaking on the responsibilities of members of the legal profession, the bishop cited Leviticus 19:15 and urged judges and lawyers to avoid oppressing the poor or showing favour to the wealthy.

He stressed that justice should be administered fairly and must remain accessible to all, regardless of social or financial status.

“Justice must not be sold. Justice must not be distorted. Justice must not depend on status. Justice must not become available unto those who can afford it, the highest bidders,” he said.

Bishop Odedeji added that the poor should not be despised while wealthy and influential individuals should not receive preferential treatment because of their position or connections.

Drawing from 1 Corinthians 4:2, which states that “it is required in stewards that one be found faithful,” the bishop said the beginning of a new legal year provided an opportunity for members of the judiciary and the Bar to reflect on the responsibilities attached to their offices.

He reminded judges and lawyers that their positions were a trust and that their decisions could have serious consequences for the liberty, property, reputation and lives of others.

“We are stewards and not owners. Whatever position the Lord has given to us is borrowed,” he said.

The bishop also referenced John 3:27 and Hebrews 5:4 to emphasise that positions of authority and honour were entrusted to individuals and should therefore be handled responsibly.

He described judicial office, legal briefs and clients’ confidence as trusts that required faithfulness, stressing that greater positions came with greater responsibilities.

“A judicial office is a trust. A brief entrusted to a lawyer is a trust. The confidence of a client is a trust,” he said.

Odedeji warned that professional achievements without integrity could amount to failure, noting that a lawyer could win a case while losing his or her conscience.

“A person may win a case and still lose his integrity. A person may obtain judgment in his favour and still stand condemned in his own conscience,” he said.

He therefore urged lawyers to combine professional competence with good character, warning that legal expertise without conscience could turn the law into an instrument of oppression.

“Therefore, let your competence be impressive, but let your character be unquestionable as you start a new legal year,” he said.

The bishop also cautioned judicial officers against using their authority to intimidate, dominate or humiliate others.

He reminded them that holding a position of power did not make them superior to those appearing before them, stressing that everyone in authority remained accountable to God.

“There is a judge above every judge, there’s an authority above every authority, there is a court from which no appeal is possible,” he said.

According to him, divine judgment could not be influenced by wealth, intimidation, eloquence or legal technicalities because God sees beyond what is presented publicly.

“God sees beyond evidence. He sees the motives, He sees the intention, He sees what happened behind closed doors,” Bishop Odedeji said.

He urged members of the legal profession not to measure success solely by the positions they attain, but by how faithfully they discharge their responsibilities.

“The world we belong to often measures success by position. But scripture measures success by faithfulness,” he said.

Bishop Odedeji noted that while offices and positions were temporary, decisions taken in those positions could have lasting consequences.

He therefore urged judges and lawyers to remain committed to justice, mercy and humility throughout the new legal year.

“Your office, my office is a trust, your authority is an assignment, your position is temporary, your decisions have consequences, your character matters, your conscience matters, and your ultimate accountability is to God,” he said.

He concluded by urging members of the legal profession to remain conscious of their ultimate accountability and to ensure that their pursuit of justice was guided by integrity.

“May you never become so familiar with the law that you lose your reverence for justice. And may you never become occupied with judging others that you forget that one day, all of us will equally be judged,” he said.

The two-year programme began with a week long intensive class held from August 24 to 29 at CLA’s African hub at the Gaudium et Spes Institute in Asokoro, Abuja.

Participants will take six courses throughout the programme. The first year will cover Introduction to Theology, Introduction to Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching.

The second year will focus on the Mystery of God and the Mystery of the Church, as well as Local Catholicism and the New Evangelization . It will also include a three month hybrid internship in pastoral and public service settings.

Director of CLA, Kenneth Amadi, described the TSL programme as the organisation’s most extensive theological training programme for lay Catholics.

He explained that although many lay faithful encounter formal theology through catechism classes and continued participation in the faith, the new programme was designed to provide deeper theological formation and help participants apply their knowledge to different areas of life.

Amadi said the programme had two major objectives: to equip people who would serve the Church and their communities, and to identify participants who may wish to pursue advanced theological education as a vocation.

“Our aim for the programme is two fold. One, to serve as a terminal certificate for people who would be serving the Church in their respective communities and parishes, in different placements in the public space, who can bring to bear the fruits and gifts of their theological learning to the service of their people,” he said.

He added that the programme would also help identify people interested in pursuing advanced theological education and serving the Church at higher levels.

Amadi, who is an assistant professor at the Augustine Institute in the United States, said the institute is CLA’s major partner in providing financial and academic resources for the programme.

He noted that African lay faithful remained under represented in theological service within the global Catholic Church, despite the role theologians play in advising bishops, bishops’ conferences and pontifical commissions.

“We hope that from amongst these students that we are training will arise people who are called to advanced theological education to serve the Church at any level, be it local and international,” he said.

According to Amadi, theological education also has an important role to play in society, particularly in a religiously diverse country such as Nigeria.

He explained that sound theological formation could help Christians better understand the moral implications of their decisions and apply their faith more deliberately in areas such as politics, business and science.

He cited the intersection between theology and science in discussions surrounding human dignity, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Amadi also argued that theology could contribute meaningfully to political engagement by helping Christians understand how their faith should inform their participation in public affairs.

“Similarly, theology can sanctify politics,” he said.

“With good political theology, we hope to offer our laypeople guidance on how best to engage in politics, how best to engage in business, and how best to engage in science,” Amadi added.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the church’s 15th General Synod, held at Our Saviour’s Church, Ikenne, in the Diocese of Remo, Ogun State, from September 14 to 18.

The communiqué, which was made available to journalists in Abuja, was signed by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba; the Dean, Most Rev. Blessing Enyindah; and the General Secretary, Ven. Festus Opara.

The Synod, which had as its theme, “The Priesthood of All Believers: Equipping God’s People for the Work of Ministry,” was presided over by Ndukuba.

A total of 142 bishops, 199 clergy members and 145 members of the laity attended the gathering.

The Synod reaffirmed the responsibility of every Christian to participate actively in the mission of Christ, calling for greater involvement of church members in evangelism, volunteer work and nation building rather than leaving ministry solely to the clergy.

On the state of the nation, the church expressed concern over the continued insecurity across the country, particularly the persistence of banditry, kidnapping and killings.

While acknowledging the Federal Government’s recent efforts, including the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and the deployment of forest guards, the Synod called for stronger intelligence gathering and the reclamation of ungoverned spaces.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the church urged politicians to put the unity and interests of the country above partisan considerations.

It also called on political actors to avoid hate speech, vote-buying and the spread of misinformation during the election period.

The Synod urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to maintain neutrality and transparency in the conduct of elections, while asking the judiciary to remain independent when handling electoral matters.

The church also expressed concerns about developments in the health, education and economic sectors.

It called for stronger public healthcare institutions, increased investment in education and measures to stabilise fuel prices in order to ease pressure on households and improve purchasing power.

On agriculture and food security, the Synod warned of the possibility of worsening hunger, particularly in the North-East and North-Central regions, by the end of 2026.

It therefore called for improved security for farmers, access to single-digit interest loans and transparent distribution of agricultural inputs and subsidies.

The church also condemned repeated reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa and urged both countries to strengthen diplomatic engagement to address the issue.

At the same time, it encouraged Nigerians living abroad to respect the laws and immigration regulations of their host countries.

Other resolutions of the Synod included a call for stronger action against drug abuse, with the church suggesting consideration of mandatory drug testing for public office holders.

It also advocated a reduction in the cost of governance through full implementation of the Oronsaye Report and urged responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence.

On national unity, the Synod stressed the importance of respecting Nigeria’s secular character.

It expressed concern over the continuation of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and reports alleging that some Christian youths had been denied admission to certain federal universities in northern Nigeria on religious grounds, warning that such developments could further strain national cohesion.

The Synod reaffirmed the Church of Nigeria’s commitment to serving as a witness for Christ and contributing to national transformation.

It urged Nigerians to uphold justice, peace, accountability and responsible citizenship, saying these values remained important to building a more prosperous and united country.

Beyond the remarkable level of orderliness I observed within the denomination, one of the most touching highlights of the occasion for me was hearing warm and beautiful comments about my late dad and mum from The Most Rev. Dr. Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of the Church of Nigeria.

He spoke about how Papa Tai, Mama Sheila and the Mayflower community came to the aid of him and his family during and after the Nigerian Civil War. These were things I had never known before, and learning about them brought immense joy to my heart.

I would also like to sincerely appreciate The Most Rev. Dr. Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba and the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, for the warmth, hospitality and honour extended to me throughout the occasion.

I am grateful to the Church for creating such an atmosphere of orderliness, fellowship and genuine Christian love, which made the experience truly memorable for me.

Mark Antony said in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar that the good deeds of men are forgotten and buried with them. That, however, is not the case with Oga Taṣẹrẹ, whose humanitarian deeds continue to live on and resonate across generations.

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