Notwithstanding the current suffering of the populace, the Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria (TEKAN) has criticised the exorbitant expense of governance in Nigeria.
TEKAN is composed of 15 denominational churches that were founded roughly 69 years ago and have a Christian faith, doctrinal affinities, and a traceable evangelical heritage.
At the conclusion of its 69th general assembly, which was held yesterday at the Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria (ERCC) headquarters in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, the organisation released a statement criticising elected politicians for their luxurious lifestyles at the expense of the general populace.
The statement, which was signed by Rev. Joel Stephen Billi, the organization’s president, and Rev. Augustine Akawu Elisha, its secretary, recommended that all levels of government reduce the expense of governance and use the money saved to raise citizens’ standards of life.
Additionally, it promoted significant agricultural investment, which would result in enough food production to meet domestic demand as well as exports.
It claimed that doing so would stop the country’s inflation brought on by the national currency’s floating and its negative consequences on the populace.
The assembly also calls on the federal government to do more to alleviate the pain that Nigerians are currently experiencing as a result of the gasoline subsidy reduction, pointing out that the actions taken in this regard have had a noticeable effect.
Along with criticising the persistent instability nationwide that has hampered the fight for food security, it called on the federal government to take further action to put an end to the threat.
It urged localities to organise vigilante organisations and work with security forces to protect their areas within the bounds of the law.
In addition to calling for the resettlement and empowerment of individuals who have been forced from their ancestral homes due to instability to support themselves and their families, the assembly encouraged the federal government to endeavour towards the rescue of those detained by non-state actors.
Regarding the nation’s unemployment rate, the assembly urged the federal government to oversee the execution of the learning program and incorporate skill development into the curriculum.
The assembly urged young people to adopt skills-building programs and shift their focus from white-collar occupations to develop self-control, the statement read.