*COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 2017 ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE NIGERIA CHRISTIAN GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP HELD IN PORT-HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE* .
PREAMBLE:
The Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship (NCGF), a trans-denominational Christian organization, held its 42nd Annual National Conference, August 23-26, 2017 at the Swiss Spirit Hotel and Suites, Port Harcourt. The conference was attended by Christians from all walks of life and was addressed by anointed men and women of God amongst whom were notable clergymen/women; a past Governor of Ondo State, a member of the National Assembly, a past minister of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, a legal luminary, professors and others.
The conference, which lasted four days, provided a wonderful opportunity for inspired worship, fervent prayers for personal and national needs, illuminating expositions from the Bible, God’s word, and engaging discussion on matters of urgent national concern. It also incorporated, for the first time, an Economic Summit aimed at proffering useful suggestions for reviving the nation’s ailing economy.
Expounding on the theme: Dew in the Midst of Adversity, conferees were encouraged to recognize their special relationship with God who has promised never to leave them nor forsake them (Heb 13:5) and who has all it takes to give them succour in every adverse circumstance (Heb 2:18). Rather than lose faith in God or succumb to the temptation to visit evil on any person(s) or groups that may lend themselves to be used of the devil to hurt them or make their lives unbearable, they were encouraged to be “…Like dew from the Lord, Like showers on the grass (a source of blessing)”- Micah 5:7(Amplified Bible).
They were taught to depend on God to help them as individuals, families or nation through a demonstration of His sovereign power, through other people, and the right application of godly principles, prayers and praise to God.
THE CHURCH:
Conference reviewed the activities of the church in Nigeria and concluded that it ought to focus a lot more on the prayers of Jesus Christ in John 17 wherein He craves that the church might be one. Conference also urges the church to earnestly pray for the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Bible in Rev 11:15 “until the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ”. In doing so, the church must be encouraged by the prophecies of Cindy Jacobs and Bill Hammond both of which indicate that Nigeria shall bleed for a season but thereafter she shall offer hope to the rest of the world even as she bears God’s message of liberation from sin, Satan and darkness through the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Conference also calls on all Christians to demonstrate their abiding faith in Nigeria – the land of their planting – by praying more fervently for her and by contributing their quota towards her well being through dedication to duty in their respective callings and being actively involved in deciding her future through participation in social and political activities whose focus is the development of the Nigerian Polity.
Conference calls on the church in southern parts of the country in particular to show more concern for the plight of the victims of religious intolerance wherever this occurs in the country.
ECONOMIC SUMMIT:
Conference observes that Nigeria used to be the number one investment destination in Africa in periods preceding 2015 but has fallen to the 19th position. This has affected our foreign direct investment.
Conference takes notice of the adverse effect of agitations on the economy resulting in an unstable/unattractive environment for foreign investors.
Evidence abounds of institutionalized weakness in the monetary and fiscal policies currently in operation. Conference finds them ineffective in curbing the leakages in the economy. The fiscal policies that routinely allocate more resources to recurrent subheads over capital expenditure are not people-oriented and are thus unproductive and impact negatively on the health of the economy.
Citizens’ failure to demand for accountability from Government has been glaring thereby allowing for more recklessness in governance. Conference urges all Nigerians to rise up and hold political office holders accountable as provided for by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Conference observes that no nation develops without the utilization of her best human resources. It therefore frowns at the system of patronage based on political loyalty rather than on competence. Conference demands that quality Nigerian professionals should be consulted in the nation’s efforts to reengineer the economy.
Conference calls on government to strengthen the relevant institutions for effective management of the economy. Our fiscal blueprint should reflect more of the interest of the governed through an improved budgetary process.
Conference calls on both the public and private sectors to undertake enhanced marketing of Nigeria in the global space. Our monetary policies should be structured based on a framework of demand and supply aimed at creating stability in the economy.
GOOD GOVERNANCE:
Good governance thrives where structures and processes are designed to ensure transparency, equity, and promotion of the rule of law. Conference, however, frowns at the perverse practices in Nigeria’s electoral processes that make it difficult for credible individuals to participate fully in the nation’s political space.
Conference therefore urges that drivers of democracy such as equity and justice must of necessity be imbibed by our leaders as democracy cannot be consolidated where there is a negation of democratic principles. The electoral body, (INEC) should be strengthened and made truly independent to function optimally.
Conference believes that Nigeria need not be fragmented to achieve efficiency. It however, is convinced that some form of restructuring that will allow all its constituent parts have a sense of belonging, justice, fairness, and equity is inevitable.
Good governance which is a panacea for development thrives on accountability and inclusiveness. Conference is of the opinion that performance be monitored, evaluated and measured based on meaningful impact on people and not necessarily on the execution of brick and mortar projects.
Conference also advocates the adoption of sound policies, strong institutions, effective and efficient investment in public services which are currently deficient in our system.
NATIONAL SECURITY:
Conference expresses grave concern and apprehension about the growing level of insecurity in Nigeria occasioned by terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping, agitations and hate speeches by individuals and groups, as well as the unrestrained criminal activities of so-called Fulani herdsmen across the country. It notes that as long as any group of persons is allowed to engage freely in wanton killings and destruction without prosecution, Nigerians will tend to question the commitment of the Federal Government and its agencies to protecting lives and property as guaranteed by the Constitution.
It calls on relevant agencies to step up the fight against Boko Haram terrorists and restore peace to the affected parts of the country. While urging the Government to ensure that perpetrators of crime and criminal activities are clearly identified and brought to book at all times, the Fellowship advises the Federal Government of Nigeria to dispassionately look into the agitations by various ethnic groups in the interest of peace, equity and unity.
EDUCATION:
On the education sector, the Conference heaves a sigh of relief at the news of the unbundling of the subject, Religion and National Values in the Junior Secondary School curriculum and the restoration of Christian Religious Studies and Islamic Religious Studies as two independent subjects.
The body, however, expresses dissatisfaction with the frequency of policy somersault in the sector. It describes as scandalous and unprogressive the lowering of cut-off marks for admission into tertiary institutions by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as the decision would further bring down the standard of education, being the lowest in the history of admissions into higher institutions in the country.
The Fellowship enjoins the relevant bodies to revert to the status quo ante which prescribed 180 -200 marks for university admission rather than the 120 marks recently announced as the new minimum score obtainable for purposes of admission into our universities.
Conference observes that the on-going industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is unhealthy for the system and appeals to the Federal Government to honour its agreement with the Union as a way of resolving the crisis and arresting the decay in our publicly owned tertiary institutions in the overall interest of the nation.
The NCGF faults the nefarious plan by the Federal Government and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to introduce a foreign language (Arabic Language) as a compulsory course at the undergraduate level for students of Management disciplines in our universities. The body calls on the NUC to discontinue with the plan as Arabic Language is not in any way relevant to Management sciences.
Conference observes with huge discomfort the lop-sided appointment of Chief Executives of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education based on ethnic and religious considerations as virtually all of them are Northern Muslims. Conference therefore urges the Federal Government to make appropriate changes that will reflect our national multi-ethnic, multi-religious composition.
CONCLUSION:
The Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship appreciates the emergence of a new crop of selfless leaders for the Church in Nigeria committed to the needs of the Church and good governance of the nation. The Fellowship is grateful to God for His grace and mercy over us as a nation and calls on all Nigerians to remain committed to the building of a new Nigeria of our dream.
Prof. Charles Adisa
National President
Pastor Onyenachi Nwaegeruo
General Secretary
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