The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has defended the budgetary provision for the purchase of musical instruments for churches in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, saying the intervention was not merely for church instruments but part of a broader Youth Re-orientation and Social Support Programme delivered through faith-based organisations.

In a statement issued by his office, Kalu said reports suggesting that ₦1 billion was inserted in the 2026 budget solely for the procurement of musical instruments for churches in Bende misrepresented the intent and scope of the programme.

He clarified that after VAT and other tax deductions, the actual allocation is ₦780 million, and that the programme is designed to support youth engagement, moral re-orientation and community outreach through churches across the constituency.

According to him, Bende has 13 federal political/electoral wards and more than 200 churches, while the first phase of the intervention will target 130 churches, averaging about 10 churches per ward.

He said the support would amount to about ₦5 million to ₦6 million per church.

Kalu explained that the programme was designed to equip churches to expand existing youth engagement platforms focused on character reform, discipline, peacebuilding, values and community development.

He added that the funds would support the purchase of evangelical instruments and public address systems to strengthen campaigns against social vices, including narcotics, sexual offences and violent crimes.

The Deputy Speaker argued that using faith-based organisations for youth development is not new, noting that similar models exist in other parts of the country, although the strategy has not gained wide adoption in the South East.

He maintained that the intervention is aimed at empowering religious institutions to contribute more meaningfully to youth re-orientation and social stability in communities within Bende Federal Constituency.

_______________________________________________________________________ LAWBREED NEW WIG SPECIAL OFFER — Give a newly called lawyer a lasting professional gift. Get up to 20% off selected LAWBREED Supreme Court Reports, plus access to My S.C Extra, featuring Supreme Court judgments from 1972 to date. Call/WhatsApp: 08077011741 | 08077011755 | 08077011730 | 08023269613 Email: orders@lawbreed.com | mails@lawbreed.com LAWBREED — Equipping You For Greater Success! _______________________________________________________________________

“Order Justice Omolaye-Ajileye’s Electronic Evidence Books Now” — Essential Guides On Evidence Act, Case Law And Digital Proof

Two leading books on electronic evidence by Hon. Justice Professor Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, Rtd., PhD, FICMC, are now available for purchase. The publications, Electronic Evidence (Second Edition), With The Evidence Act, 2011 and Compendium Of Cases On Electronic Evidence, Volume II, 2020–2025, provide practical guidance, legal analysis and recent judicial authorities on electronic evidence in Nigeria.Order directly from the author here: https://velvety-cendol-7387ed.netlify.app/ ______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook As an added bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE ebook titled: “How to use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion.” Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.   ______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation ________________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

_______________________________________________________________________