Yemisi Izuora
Worried about the current state of insecurity, kidnappings and other vices in the country ,Scripture Union (SU) Nigeria, an international, interdenominational and non-denominational Christian organization has urged the Federal Government to stem the tide of killings and address all the critical challenges facing the country.
The Union stated this in a communiqué jointly signed by the trio of Prof M.O. Iwe, National Chairman; Mr. Phillips Adewale, National Director; and Mr. Odicha’ Ude, Council Secretary, at her 101st Council Meeting held at the National Camp of Faith Okigwe, Imo State .
According to the statement ,the Federal Government should look critically and without bias at the various agitations from many ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria in order to ensure equity and fair play for peaceful and progressive co-existence.
The Union also urged the Federal Government to ensure equitable consideration in appointments considering the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria in order to assure various ethnic nationalities fair play and sense of belonging.
The SU further enjoined the Federal Government to address youth restiveness through sustainable employment capable of assuring the children and youths adequate daily provisions.
‘’SU opines that qualitative education in Nigeria stands as the only incontrovertible means of national development, hence the Post-UME in tertiary institutions should be encouraged and sustained”, the Union stated.
It stressed that both the Federal and State governments should as a matter of urgency address the issue of unpaid salaries, pension allowances to their serving and retired staff, and serious action be taken to address high cost of doing business in Nigeria due to lack of optimal power supply and lingering poor road infrastructure.
Commending the Federal Government in her fight against corruption, the union called on the government to transparently declare recovered loots to Nigerians in order to provide level-playing ground in the anti-graft war.
SU Nigeria thanked the Lord God Almighty for keeping the country in peace despite the forces of darkness fighting against her welfare and called on Christians in Nigeria to go back to the tenets of truth, holiness and Christian tradition “as they await the soon coming King – our Lord Jesus Christ”.
The union also called on Christians and Scripture Union members to pray for Nigeria in view of corruption, ritual and cult killings, imbalance in family units, uncontrollable apostasy among the youths, Fulani herdsmen menace and agitations around and within various geopolitical zones.
It advised Christians to go back to evangelism and discipleship as means of fulfilling the great commission and the need for Nigeria to return to God as her sovereign ruler whose authority is absolute and incontrovertible
The Union commended the efforts of the government in ensuring that Nigeria came out of recession, though the effect is yet to be felt by the generality of the people.
The Union strongly said non-governmental organization bill should be dropped as it will hinder freedom of worship as enshrined in the Constitution.
It thanked God Almighty for the completion and commissioning of a 600-capacity self-contained Comfort Essien hostel and called on all who would want a serene environment for meditation and spiritual reflection to feel free to utilize the facility