Bishop challenges Nigerians on work ethics
CONN/340506
Abuja, May 31, 2006- The Rt. Rev Duke Akamisoko, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Zonkwa is concerned over the nation’s attitude to work and wants a reduction in the number of public holidays observed in the country.
Addressing the second session of the sixth session of the diocese of Abuja, Bishop Akamisoko said the nation’s level of productivity is suffering because a lot of Nigerians are lazy and idle at the expense of genuine hard work.
The Bishop, who was the Guest preacher at the synod with the theme ‘Work For the Night is Coming’- John 9:4 used the occasion of his series of sermon to argue that hard work is a divine injunction from God which must be obeyed by all Christians.
He believes “Nigeria is falling apart because our people, from the leadership to the followers are not ready to work. Everywhere you go today you will meet people who are not ready to work.”
“In government offices, private office, they now watch TV while at work. If our nation must be great we must change our attitude towards work. We must be hard workers. That is where the hope of our nation lies.”
The Bishop said great nations of the world was built on the sweat and blood of labour, he however expressed concern whether the same could be said of the country.
He took a swipe on the number of public holidays observed in the country.
“ In Nigeria we have the following rest days: “52 Sundays, 52 Saturdays, 2 days for Eid-El- Kabir, 2 days for Eid-El Fitri, 2 days for Christmas, 2 days for Easter, 1 day for EI-Maulud and 1 day for Democracy Day. ”
“1 day for Independence celebration, 1 day for workers day and 1 day for Children's day. That totals 117 days for holidays.” “Imagine 117 days instead of 52 days for rest! This is official for every Nigerian.”
“For civilian servant it is more: Junior staff, 4 weeks holidays or 28 days, senior staff, 6 weeks holidays (42 days).“If we sum the official 117 days and the 28 days for Junior staff that equals 145 days of holiday and for the senior staff, 159 days of holiday!
He asked the synod delegates and visitors which included top government officials: “How can we make progress with this attitude and lifestyle?”
Reminding Christians to have the right attitude toward work, the Bishop averred “the principle of our acting as salt and light in society must surely have particular references to the sphere of our daily work.”
Also at the synod, a report presented by the Directorate of Hospital and Prisons Chaplaincy expressed concern over the state of Kuje Federal Prison in Abuja.
Ven Ik. Okpuno, Director of Hospital and Prisons Chaplaincy in the Diocese of Abuja said the biggest problem facing the prison was the ever increasing population of inmates which is over stretching the existing facilities.
The cells have become congested…the toilets and water supply are inadequate… when the population was over 300, we were talking about congestion, now that it has gone beyond 580; the place is far below standard for human existence,” he said.
He appealed to the Church to call on the government to speed up the process of dispensation of justice toward reducing the population in the prison.
The report also acknowledged that the Anglican Hospital and Prisons chaplaincy has a place of worship for the ‘girls’ at the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) shelter in Abuja.
A communiqué issued by the synod observed that the high rate of unemployment in the country was partly because Nigerians have preference for white collar jobs than self employment.
It also criticized the dependence on house-help to run homes. “The engagement of house-help in the home is militating against the inculcation of good work habits in our children,” the synod said.
The Church was urged to encourage parents to de-emphasis the use of house-helps and concentrate on teaching their children the virtues of hard work.
On the nation, the communiqué advised that the fight against corruption and indolence should include timely release and proper utilization of funds meant foe the nation’s development.
The second session of the sixth synod of the diocese of Abuja was held at All Saints Church Wuse. Some 129 delegates attended the synod presided by the Bishop of Abuja and Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Most Rev Peter Akinola.
CONN/340506
Abuja, May 31, 2006- The Rt. Rev Duke Akamisoko, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Zonkwa is concerned over the nation’s attitude to work and wants a reduction in the number of public holidays observed in the country.
Addressing the second session of the sixth session of the diocese of Abuja, Bishop Akamisoko said the nation’s level of productivity is suffering because a lot of Nigerians are lazy and idle at the expense of genuine hard work.
The Bishop, who was the Guest preacher at the synod with the theme ‘Work For the Night is Coming’- John 9:4 used the occasion of his series of sermon to argue that hard work is a divine injunction from God which must be obeyed by all Christians.
He believes “Nigeria is falling apart because our people, from the leadership to the followers are not ready to work. Everywhere you go today you will meet people who are not ready to work.”
“In government offices, private office, they now watch TV while at work. If our nation must be great we must change our attitude towards work. We must be hard workers. That is where the hope of our nation lies.”
The Bishop said great nations of the world was built on the sweat and blood of labour, he however expressed concern whether the same could be said of the country.
He took a swipe on the number of public holidays observed in the country.
“ In Nigeria we have the following rest days: “52 Sundays, 52 Saturdays, 2 days for Eid-El- Kabir, 2 days for Eid-El Fitri, 2 days for Christmas, 2 days for Easter, 1 day for EI-Maulud and 1 day for Democracy Day. ”
“1 day for Independence celebration, 1 day for workers day and 1 day for Children's day. That totals 117 days for holidays.” “Imagine 117 days instead of 52 days for rest! This is official for every Nigerian.”
“For civilian servant it is more: Junior staff, 4 weeks holidays or 28 days, senior staff, 6 weeks holidays (42 days).“If we sum the official 117 days and the 28 days for Junior staff that equals 145 days of holiday and for the senior staff, 159 days of holiday!
He asked the synod delegates and visitors which included top government officials: “How can we make progress with this attitude and lifestyle?”
Reminding Christians to have the right attitude toward work, the Bishop averred “the principle of our acting as salt and light in society must surely have particular references to the sphere of our daily work.”
Also at the synod, a report presented by the Directorate of Hospital and Prisons Chaplaincy expressed concern over the state of Kuje Federal Prison in Abuja.
Ven Ik. Okpuno, Director of Hospital and Prisons Chaplaincy in the Diocese of Abuja said the biggest problem facing the prison was the ever increasing population of inmates which is over stretching the existing facilities.
The cells have become congested…the toilets and water supply are inadequate… when the population was over 300, we were talking about congestion, now that it has gone beyond 580; the place is far below standard for human existence,” he said.
He appealed to the Church to call on the government to speed up the process of dispensation of justice toward reducing the population in the prison.
The report also acknowledged that the Anglican Hospital and Prisons chaplaincy has a place of worship for the ‘girls’ at the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) shelter in Abuja.
A communiqué issued by the synod observed that the high rate of unemployment in the country was partly because Nigerians have preference for white collar jobs than self employment.
It also criticized the dependence on house-help to run homes. “The engagement of house-help in the home is militating against the inculcation of good work habits in our children,” the synod said.
The Church was urged to encourage parents to de-emphasis the use of house-helps and concentrate on teaching their children the virtues of hard work.
On the nation, the communiqué advised that the fight against corruption and indolence should include timely release and proper utilization of funds meant foe the nation’s development.
The second session of the sixth synod of the diocese of Abuja was held at All Saints Church Wuse. Some 129 delegates attended the synod presided by the Bishop of Abuja and Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Most Rev Peter Akinola.
