COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH SYNOD OF THE DIOCESE OF ABUJA [ANGLICAN COMMUNION], HELD AT ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH, WUSE ZONE 5, ABUJA FROM THURSDAY, 26TH TO SUNDAY, 29TH MAY, 2022.
Preamble
The Diocese of Abuja, Church of Nigeria [Anglican Communion] held the Third Session of the Eleventh Synod from Thursday, 26th to Sunday, 29th May 2022, at All Saints’ Church, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. The Synod was presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese of Abuja and the Primate of All Nigeria, The Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, MA, BD, MA (Ed), DD.
A total of 345 delegates made up of the House of Bishops – 1, the House of Clergy – 71, and the House of Laity 273 from the eight Archdeaconries and six Deaneries of the Diocese of Abuja, participated in the Synod. In attendance were the Dean, Church of Nigeria [Anglican Communion], The Most Rev’d Dr. Ali Buba Lamido, the former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, other Archbishops and Bishops from various Dioceses of the Church of Nigeria [Anglican Communion]. There were other distinguished Nigerians who came to felicitate with the Diocese of Abuja.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Synod examined the Theme: “THE BOND OF PEACE: THE INNER STRUCTURE OF THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH”, taken from Ephesians 4:3.
THE MOST REV’D DR. HENRY C. NDUKUBA, DD, MA, BD, MA (Ed.) Diocesan Bishop
The theme emphasizes the importance of exerting all powers to make a resolute determination to maintain the oneness in Christ and for Christians to eagerly preserve the sacred union which should characterize the true Church, as well as unifies people of every tribe, and race, etc., across the nation. Synod, therefore, believes that some of the criteria to maintain the Bond of Peace are tolerance, equity, selflessness, and fairness.
Synod notes that love is “the perfect bond” which exhorts us to preserve a concrete relationship of love in the bond of peace that binds us together; as well as, encourage teamwork to ensure proper nurturing, mentoring and discipleship, mission, and evangelism – leading to growth and national unity.
2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS
Synod notes the conduct of the recently held political party primaries across the country in the course of which candidates have emerged as flag-bearers in the forthcoming 2023 General Elections at various levels.
Synod notes that in the course of this exercise, a number of persons have become aggrieved by the outcome of the choice of candidates. Synod, therefore, urges that they seek the avenues for redress at the judicial level rather than opt to promote violence, disunity, and general disharmony in the country.
Synod urges all eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the new Electoral Act, obtain their Permanent Voter’s Card [PVC], and participate actively in the forthcoming General Elections without fear of intimidation. Synod further urges the security agencies, Civil Society, and faith-based organizations including other stakeholders to provide the necessary oversight.
Synod commends President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for signing the 2022 amended Electoral Act and charges the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] to ensure a smooth, free, and fair electoral process.
EDUCATION
Synod notes with grave concern the stagnated and epileptic state of the education sector across all levels, especially in our universities, and frowns at the multi-dimensional negative and ripple effects these have and will continue to impact on the teeming youths in the days ahead.
Synod calls on governments, at all levels, to make education an utmost priority and explore conclusive consensus with all aggrieved academic unions especially the Academic Staff Union of Universities [ASUU] in order to permanently resolve the matter in a more pragmatic manner.
INSECURITY
Synod condemns the high level of incessant killings happening in the country as a result of the degenerating insecurity occasioned by banditry, kidnapping, herdsmen militia, IPOB agitations as well as incessant attacks on lives and property which threatens the sovereignty of the nation.
Synod decries the continuous detention of the Abuja – Kaduna train victims and calls for more proactive action to secure their release as soon as possible. Synod further urges the government to render maximum protection to its citizens by employing all security apparatus to ensure the safe release of all victims and abductees in the captivity of terrorists, especially Leah Sharibu and the remaining Chibok school girls, among others.
Synod expresses concern that bandits have continued to destroy, take over villages, and dispossess communities from their homes and farmlands and thousands now live as refugees in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria. Synod, therefore, urges governments at all levels to ensure the safe return of internally displaced persons in the region back to their communities as was done in the North-East with people displaced by the Boko Haram.
GOOD GOVERNANCE
Synod condemns the activities of some Nigerian politicians who bring foreigners from other countries in Africa to enhance their political advantage as these elements create havoc and take to criminality for financial rewards they stand to gain.
Synod appreciates government collaborative efforts with foreign development partners such as the International Organization of Migration [IOM], United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes [UNODC], Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria [A-TIPSOM/ FIIAPP], International Centre for Migration Policy Development [ICMPD], etc.; to ensure safe migration through capacity building, technology, and intelligence sharing as well as exchange programs to effectively secure the Nation’s vast and porous borders.
Synod also commends the Federal Government on recent efforts to develop a career progression framework and national gender mainstreaming policy in the Public Service and urges that methodology to domesticate these efforts be critically considered and effectively implemented across all professions.
Synod urges the Federal Government to further address issues and agitations being raised such as the unity of the country, economic challenges, and lopsided political appointments into public offices through wider consultations with States to foster unity, equity, and fairness.
Synod condemns the alarming rate of corruption being unraveled in the nation where monies, enough to transform
the nation’s security infrastructure, education, health, and power sectors have been mismanaged or carted away with .irnpunity. Synod calls on the government to institute safeguarding mechanisms and structures in all public institutions to check avenues and tendencies that encourage corruption and bring all the culprits to book. Synod condemns the proposal to remove the fuel subsidy and urges the Federal Government to prioritize a shift to clean energy resources, especially in the face of global withdrawal from fossil fuels.
Synod further calls for the need to address fundamental issues necessary for growing a united and prosperous nation by calling for a new citizen-made national constitution that will replace the amended military-formulated constitution.
POWER SECTOR
Synod expresses concern over the declining electricity supply across the nation which is impacting negatively on security, businesses, and governance in general and further raising the cost of goods and services. Synod notes that this is worsened by the unrealistic high tariff imposed on the average consumer without a commensurate power supply. Synod charges the government to prioritize the need to generate enough megawatts sustainable for both economic and national development which expectedly will foster unity and peace.
BRAIN DRAIN
Synod notes with grave concern the mass exodus of our youths, academic and health professionals, among others in the quest for greener pastures. Synod, therefore, calls on governments at all levels to check these unfortunate anomalies.
HEALTH
COVID-19 Pandemic
Synod noticed with great concern that a very good number of Nigerians have not been vaccinated despite the dogged efforts by the government as the world awaits the declaration of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Synod, therefore, calls on all Nigerians who have not been vaccinated to do so without further delay in order to cushion the spread of this dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.
Monkey-Pox Outbreak
Synod urges governments, at all levels, to ensure adequate measures are instituted to avert the impending Monkey-Pox outbreak in the nation.
Synod further calls on the citizenry to promote the practice of personal hygiene by maintaining the existing nonpharmaceutical disease prevention measures.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Synod decries the decadence over the growing rate of domestic and gender-based violence, killings being experienced in various homes and institutions in the society as children and youths are beginning to see this as a norm. Synod condemns the recent killing of Deborah Samuel in Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, as well as the carnage suffered by many during the recent riot at Dei-Dei, Abuja. Synod, therefore, urges all and sundry to desist from any form of jungle justice.
Synod, therefore, calls on all relevant religious and socio-cultural institutions to inculcate family virtues such as love, tolerance, and unity while demanding the government to carry out a thorough investigation, hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that victims are given justice to stem this tide and bring healing to the society.
EMPLOYMENT / EMPOWERMENT SCHEMES
Synod commends the Federal, State, and Local Governments for the efforts to cushion the effect of unemployment, underemployment, and retrenchment of workers by providing various skills acquisition programs and funds to empower the citizenry. Synod makes a passionate appeal to the government, at all levels, to intensify efforts at creating employment opportunities through appropriate recruitment and self-empowerment schemes and the provision of grants for entrepreneurs.
ECONOMY
Synod notes with concern the dwindling economic situation in the country which has given rise to an increase in prices of commodities, crime rate, debt burden, and other social vices. Synod, therefore, condemns the current trend of increased
borrowing to fund the national budget and calls on Government at all levels to review economic policies alongside current realities, and pursue the diversification of the economy, especially in the agricultural and solid mineral sectors in order to alleviate the hardship imposed on the citizenry.
CONCLUSION
Synod assures leaders at all levels of the Church’s commitment to pray for the unity, peace, and progress of our dear country and calls on the political leadership to foster unity across the country and deliver on their electioneering promises toward national rebirth.
The Most Revd. Henry Ndukuba The Ven. Joshua Lambert President of the synod Synod Secretary
