The Anglican Diocese on The Coast, Ondo State, has admonished the Federal Government to exhibit the political will to tackle the economic hardship in the country by ensuring that the new salary being negotiated is sufficient to take care of the needs of the workers, extending the gesture to pensioners, and taking potent measures to bring down the rising cost of living.

The diocese gave the advice during the just concluded second session of its tenth Synod held at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Iju-Odo, Okitipupa Local Government. The theme was “That I may know Him and the Power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being made conformable unto His death” Philippians 3:10.

In his charge to the Synod, which was also attended by eminent citizens, including traditional rulers, government officials and bishops of sister dioceses, the Diocesan, The Rt. Revd Oluseyi OlaOluwa Pirisola called on government at all levels and other relevant stakeholders to prioritise the development of the agricultural and industrial sectors of the economy with a view to boosting the nation’s productivity for local consumption and export, tackling foreign exchange shortages, providing employment opportunities.

He encouraged the government to go an extra mile in checking the unprovoked, escalating and seemingly intractable insecurity that has made life miserable and unsafe for thousands of families that have lost their love ones and property worth billions of naira. Specifically, relevant authorities were encouraged to identify and address the root causes of insecurity in the country, including porosity of the national borders, proliferation of arms, youth unemployment and indulgence in criminality.

The Synod noted that the current constitution has limitations that hinder the growth and stability of the country and, therefore, called for a new constitution to be packaged by sovereign representatives of the component ethnic nationalities of the nation. It was suggested that the new constitution should reflect the nation’s identity and diversity, and must be a unifying force that recognizes and protects our diversity, reinforces true federalism, create state police, and ensure equitable distribution of national resources among the federating units.

The President Bola Tinubu’s administration was reminded of its promise to make the state-owned refineries work to address the hardship caused by fuel scarcity and skyrocketing prices of the products, with an advice that it should do everything possible to make the facilities functional again. The diocese urged Nigerians not to give up in the task of building a greater Nigeria despite the state of the nation that exhibits signs of a failed country.

The delegates mourned the late governor, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, lauded his achievements and urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to build on his good legacies. They hailed the approval of a deep-sea port in Ondo State and called for immediate execution of the project to boost the economy.

The dilapidated state of the Igbotako-Akinfosile and Iju-Odo-Omotoso roads also came into focus, with a call on the state government to quickly begin rehabilitation of the roads that were described as very important in the lives of the people in Ondo South Senatorial district..

As the state government and other relevant authorities were urged to work for restoration of electricity supply to Okitipupa, Irele, Ilaje and Ese-Odo local governments to save the economies of the affected areas, the Synod also advised all stakeholders to ensure that the forthcoming governorship election is free and fair, and politicians must respect the rules of the game.