Presbyterian Church Synod calls for petroleum subsidy removal

THE Synod of the West of The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take immediate and decisive action towards the revitalization of the nation’s existing refineries and the construction of new ones, as a means of ensuring the regular and adequate supply of locally produced petroleum products, in order to eliminate the recurrent scarcity of petroleum products in the country.

This, the Synod said, would result in the removal of petroleum subsidy by abolishing the importation of petroleum products and its consequent sharp practices, as well as the generation of employment and further stimulation of the growth of the economy.

It also urged government to pay adequate attention to agriculture and the solid mineral sector as a means of diversifying the economy and generating more revenue for the country.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its 20th Regional Synod meeting held at its Lekki Parish, Eti-Osa Local Council of Lagos State, the synod congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Nigeria for the successful 2015 general elections and the peaceful transition from one democratically elected government to another.

It also commended the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for guaranteeing peaceful transition by conceding defeat in the polls. The Synod congratulated the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for his victory at the governorship election and pledged its support to the government at all levels.

The Church lamented the worsening security situation in Nigeria occasioned by the wanton destruction of lives and property by the Boko Haram sect and nomadic cattle herdsmen; the rising incidents of crimes such as kidnapping, oil pipeline vandalisation, armed robbery, cultism, etc and called on the Government to engage adequate global coalition to tackle these problems as it is obvious that peace and security are the basis for societal survival and national growth.

On the issue of power generation and distribution, the Synod wondered why regular power supply had become a jinx in Nigeria with successive governments. It called on the government of President Buhari to do all that is possible to break that jinx and ensure adequate, regular and affordable electricity supply as this is the engine room that will drive every sector of the nation’s development efforts.

The synod declared as unacceptable, reports of the non-payment of workers’ salaries and pensions by most state governments. It stated that the sustenance of the family unit depended on the wages and income of workers and urged the three tiers of government to accord priority status to the issue of salaries and wages in order not to worsen the poverty line and create more social problems in the country.

It also encouraged the government to consider seriously, the issue of job creation in order to gainfully engage our teeming unemployed youths as a means of shielding them from becoming the devil’s workshop in a society that is already riddled with crimes and social vices.

The church called for less emphasis on white-collar jobs and more attention on agriculture and entrepreneurship. This, it said, would help to curb the increasing crime wave and stimulate economic growth.

The 20th Regional Synod of the Church was attended by its Moderators of Presbyteries and Kirk sessions, as well as other ordained Ministers and Elders, representatives of the various arms of the Church such as the Men’s Christian Association (MCA), the Women’s Guild, Presbyterian Young People’s Association of Nigeria (PYPAN) as well as the Christian Girls In-Training (CGIT) as well as the laity from all parts of the Synod which comprises Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Edo and Delta States as well the mission Presbytery of Cotonou-Lome in the Republics of Benin and Togo.

Observers from other Synods of the Church in Nigeria overseas partner-churches also attended the three-day meeting which was held to review the Synod’s activities and plan for the next year.