Women of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Diocese of Abuja, have known as on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly implement the Electoral Act forward of the 2027 common elections.
They additionally urged governments in any respect ranges to urgently sort out insecurity, financial hardship, youth unemployment, home violence and different challenges threatening households and communities throughout the nation.
The ladies made the calls for in a communiqué offered by the President of the Mothers’ Union, Women’s Guild and Girls’ Guild, Diocese of Abuja, Mrs Angela Eberechukwu Ndukuba, on the twenty seventh Annual Diocesan Women’s Conference held on the Basilica of Grace, Gudu, Abuja.
The convention was held underneath the theme, “Rooted in Christ: The Hallmark of a Believer,” drawn from Colossians 2:6–7.
On the 2027 elections, the ladies urged eligible Christian ladies to take their civic tasks significantly by making certain their voter registration paperwork had been so as, finding out candidates and points and collaborating peacefully within the electoral course of.
They known as on INEC to uphold the provisions of the Electoral Act, stressing the necessity for a clear, credible and peaceable electoral course of.
The ladies additionally inspired Christian ladies to develop their management capacities and take part actively in public discourse whereas selling integrity, compassion and accountability.
On insecurity, the convention expressed concern over persistent kidnapping, terrorism, communal conflicts and different threats to lives and property, noting that girls, kids and different weak teams continued to bear the brunt.
“The Union calls upon Government at all levels to strengthen the protection of lives and property through effective security measures, timely response to threats, intelligence gathering, community-based security initiatives and improved coordination among relevant security agencies,” the communiqué said.
It additionally known as for accountability for perpetrators and sufficient assist for victims and displaced individuals, whereas urging church buildings to accentuate prayers, peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts.
The ladies expressed explicit concern over farmers-herders clashes, saying the violence had displaced households, restricted entry to farmlands and destroyed livelihoods.
They warned that the disaster was aggravating meals shortage and starvation as affected households had been compelled to hunt refuge in internally displaced individuals’ camps.
“The conference, in strong terms, calls on the government to actively address this situation and implement security measures to curb this menace to avoid uncontrollable escalation, resort to self-help, and breakdown of law and order,” it said.
The convention additionally raised considerations over the poor situation of federal highways, which it mentioned had uncovered motorists and different highway customers to kidnapping and armed theft.
It appealed to the Minister of Works to make sure correct upkeep of federal roads and equitable distribution of highway development and rehabilitation tasks throughout the nation.
While commending the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and his staff for ongoing highway rehabilitation in components of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, the ladies appealed for the rehabilitation of the Idu-Zhidu highway resulting in Anglican International Academy.
“The convention commends the FCT Minister, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, and his staff for the continuing rehabilitation of roads within the AMAC environs.
“However, the conference appeals that the road in Idu-Zhidu leading to Anglican International Academy (AIA) be rehabilitated to aid ease of movement,” the communiqué said.
On the economic system, the ladies decried the rising value of meals, housing, transportation, training and healthcare, saying the burden was notably extreme for widows and different economically weak ladies.
They additionally expressed concern over rising airfares, which they mentioned had made air journey more and more unaffordable for low-income earners.
The ladies urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and different related regulatory companies to watch airfare pricing and deal with extreme expenses.
They known as on governments to accentuate measures to scale back the financial burden on households by way of improved entry to reasonably priced meals, healthcare, training, housing and transportation.
The convention additionally urged Christian ladies’s organisations to strengthen financial empowerment initiatives by way of vocational and expertise coaching, entrepreneurship, monetary literacy, cooperative schemes and mentorship.
On youth unemployment, the ladies warned that the shortage of significant financial alternatives might expose younger individuals to crime, substance abuse, exploitation and different dangerous behaviours.
They due to this fact known as for larger funding in respectable employment alternatives, vocational coaching, entrepreneurship programmes and reasonably priced financing for younger Nigerians.
The convention condemned home violence, sexual abuse, harassment, human trafficking and different types of exploitation in opposition to ladies and ladies.
“The Union condemns all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination against women and girls and calls for concerted efforts to prevent such violations and protect those at risk,” it said.
The ladies known as for stronger enforcement of legal guidelines defending ladies and ladies, improved entry to justice and the supply of medical, psychosocial and rehabilitation companies for survivors.
They additionally urged church buildings and Christian organisations to ascertain confidential reporting channels, counselling companies and referral methods for victims of abuse.
On healthcare, the convention emphasised the necessity for improved maternal healthcare, antenatal and postnatal companies, most cancers screening, reproductive well being companies and preventive medical care.
It additionally inspired Christian ladies to prioritise common medical check-ups, wholesome vitamin, bodily exercise and well timed entry to skilled healthcare.
The ladies known as for stronger psychological well being and household assist programmes, noting that financial pressures, bereavement, insecurity and relationship difficulties might contribute to emotional and psychological misery.
They urged ladies experiencing psychological well being challenges to hunt skilled help with out concern of stigma or discrimination.
On pure disasters, the convention expressed concern over flooding, windstorms and erosion, which it mentioned continued to trigger lack of lives, displacement and destruction of livelihoods.
It urged governments to strengthen flood prevention measures, drainage infrastructure, early-warning methods and emergency preparedness, whereas encouraging church buildings to offer humanitarian assist to affected communities.
The ladies reaffirmed their dedication to addressing challenges confronting households and communities by way of religion, advocacy and sensible assist.
“The Mothers’ Union recognises that the challenges confronting the nation require not only governmental intervention but also the active participation of churches, families, civil society and individual citizens,” the communiqué said.
They urged Christian ladies to strengthen their households, take care of weak individuals, promote peace, defend the dignity of ladies and youngsters and contribute meaningfully to nationwide improvement.
The communiqué was signed by Ndukuba and members of the communiqué committee, together with its chairperson, Barrister Nneka Ifeoma Onyia, Dr Precious Okey-Nwala, Dr Uche Amah and Dr Ijeoma Kemka.
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