The Mothers Union and Women’s Guild of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has urged the Federal Government to reconsider the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The President of the group, Mrs. Angela Ndukuba, made the call at the closing of its 24th annul conference titled “Walk Before Me and Be Blameless” in Abuja.
It could be recalled that the Federal Government had on May 27, announced removal of fuel subsidy which had since seen the price of PMS risen to N635 per litre.
Ndukuba said that proper and effective measures should first be put in place and local refineries rehabilitated before subsidy removal.
She said that the removal of subsidy on PMS had affected the overall economy and resulted to untold hardships to the masses.
According to her, it has affected transportation, housing, prices of foodstuff, school fees and every aspect of life in Nigeria.
She said: “We are calling on the states and Federal Government to be mindful of the plights of the citizens and alleviate their sufferings.
“Giving N8,000 to 12 million Nigerian households or increasing salaries is not the solution, what will be the fate of those who are not salary earners and the unemployed?”
Ndukuba said those palliative measures would only increase the already rising inflationary rate in the country.
She said government should go into mass transportation, provision of other social amenities as well as making food available to the public at affordable prices.
“Our refineries should be put in order and made to serve the nation and stop fuel importation,” she said.
The president commended the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa and all security chiefs in their efforts to curb insecurity in the country.
She called on all the security agencies not to relent in their efforts at making the country a safe place.
Ndukuba admonished all women to engage in farming and growing of foods and animal husbandry to sustain their families and contribute to the economy of the country.
She said with the current food shortage and very high cost of living, farmers should be encouraged by making fertilizers and high breed seeds available.
According to her, farmers should be supported to move from sustenance farming to mechanised farming.
On the theme of the conference, Ndukuba said that being blameless did not mean that one would never make mistakes.
She explained that everyone must continually seek to live by God’s will as stated in the scriptures and seek reconciliation when we fall short of God’s grace.
The president urged the women to be agents of transformation, saying that it could start with having faith in Christ Jesus.
She said that transformation could lead to a pursuit of holiness, righteousness, and being blameless, living by God’s moral standards and exhibiting the fruits of the Holy Spirit at all times. (NAN)