The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has come hard on political leaders over the level of corruption in the country.
DAILY POST reports that the Anglican Church hierarchy also bemoaned what it called the insensitive economic policies of the government, which it said had put Nigerians under severe hardship.
This position was made known in a communique issued after its Standing Committee, which met at St. Andrew’s Basilica, Hill View, Trans-Ekulu, Diocese of Nike, Enugu State.
It also spoke on a wide range of issues ranging from EndBadGovernance protest, creeping of Xenophobia in Nigeria to local government autonomy.
In attendance were 147 Archbishops and Bishops, 107 Clergy, and 93 lay members.
The communique was signed by Venerable Gershinen Paul Dajur, General Secretary, Church of Nigeria, Most Rev’d Blessing C. Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria and Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria.
It rejected what it described as a piecemeal amendment of the military bequeathed constitution.
According to the communique, “Nigeria has been bedeviled with a spate of corruption, biting her so hard that it has denied her every possible and visible developmental growth and livelihood.
“The more corruption is institutionalized, the more it reigns in every facet of the Nigerian nation – Executives, Legislatures, Judiciary, Parastatals, agencies and even the ordinary citizen on the street.
“The speed and depth with which corruption thrives in Nigeria makes it difficult but not impossible to cure.
“The Standing Committee, therefore, decries the spate of corruption in our nation and highly recommends that agencies charged with the responsibility of fighting corruption (EFCC, ICPC, Nigeria Police, etc) should wake up and be more sincere, intentional and transparent in the discharge of their duty.”
“EndBadGovernance Protest: The mass demonstration of Nigerians from 1st to 10th August, 2024 against bad governance and hunger in the nation was loud and clear.
“The Standing Committee stands with the Nigerian people in their cry against bad governance and hunger, as the people are tired of empty promises by the government to stem the rising costs of living.
“Nigerians are indeed under severe hardship imposed by the insensitive economic policies of the government.
“In spite of the precarious situation of the citizens, politicians in authority have continued in their ostentatious lifestyle and unabashed display of affluence and luxury which attract public restiveness.
“While it condemns miscreants who under the guise of the protest rampaged and looted public and private properties, it deplores the molestation, unnecessary arrest and trial of peaceful and nonviolent protesters.
“Hoisting of Russian Flag: The Standing Committee condemns the hoisting of Russian flags in parts of the country by some protesters, and urges the government to thoroughly investigate and deal with the instigators and perpetrators of this crime against the Nigeria State.
“Creeping Xenophobia in Nigeria: The Standing Committee commends the President on his stand on the insidious rise in xenophobic tendencies in the country.
“Xenophobic activities might suggest that Nigeria is yet to be fully healed from the effects of the civil war.
“Therefore, it urges the President to ensure that the purveyors of xenophobic acts are brought to book instead of being merely condemned.
“Need for a New Constitution: The National Assembly has undertaken a piecemeal amendment of the military bequeathed constitution.
“The Standing Committee calls for a holistic constitution review to reflect the true situation and concerns of the Nigerian people and address the various agitations of the citizens.
“Nigerian Economy and Hike on Fuel pump price: The Nigerian economy has continued to dwindle.
“The recently approved minimum wage of N70,000.00 is already a defeated step taken by the government, as no sooner it was signed into law by the President than the fuel hike overtook its essence.
“It is also pertinent to note that some state Governors have declared their inability to pay the minimum wage.
“The Standing Committee strongly decries the hike in petroleum products (PMS, AGO, Kerosene, Cooking gas) which has made life miserable and unbearable for Nigerians. The cost of fuel influences the cost of virtually every economic activity.
“It, therefore, urges the government to bring down the cost of petroleum products to the reach of the general citizenry.
“The Standing Committee salutes the coming on stream of Dangote Refinery and for its bold effort towards solving the problem of scarcity of petroleum products and prays that it succeeds in this venture.
“It calls on the government to quickly resolve the imbroglio between the NNPCL, MDPRA, and Dangote refinery in the interest of Nigerians.
“Local Government Autonomy: The Standing Committee applauds the recent Supreme Court ruling upholding the autonomy of the 774 LGAs in the nation.
“It, therefore, urges that the bill to establish the Local Government Independent Electoral Commission be handled expeditiously to ensure that the autonomy of the Local Governments brings the desired democratic governance and expected development of the constituent communities.
“Furthermore, it strongly recommends that financial security architecture to monitor the proper utilization of allocations accruing to the Local Governments be instituted to avoid the Local Governments becoming another layer of financial hemorrhage.”
