Over 500 members of the Synods of Charismatic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) led by Archbishop Leonard Kawas have waded into the lingering crisis between the Federal Government and the Organised Labour, over minimum wage and high rate of electricity tariff, calling for a peace resolution.

The Bishops In a statement issued in Kaduna on Tuesday by the President General of CBCN, Archbishop Kawas, called on the NLC to continue to engage the Federal Government for negotiation, rather than going on strike and shut down the country which might increase inflation and hardship.

“The Synod also wade into the crisis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the federal government and pleaded with the federal government to dialogue with the Labour and be considerate of the present condition of the economy. The Synod also called upon the NLC not to shut down the country, but to continue with the negotiation to avoid more inflation and more hardship.

“NLC should not shut down the country in the name of strike, but continue with negotiation, and pray that there will be a resolution between the Labour and the federal government. But with all seriousness, any attempt to shut down the whole country, there will be great losses the nation is going to lose”. The statement noted.

According to the statement, Archbishop Kawas hosted Nigeria’s First Lady, wife of the Vice President, Chief of Defence Staff, IGP as they bag Meritorious Service Award from the Bishops.

“On the third day of the conference, a grand finale of the Charismatic Bishops synods holding at the national Christian centre, and workshop and training continued and the grand finale of the event was the welcoming of the representative of the wife of Mr. President, wife of the Vice President, Chief of Defence Staff, Senate President and Inspector General of Police who received meritorious service award of the charismatic Bishops conference of Nigeria to encourage them for the work they are doing and to publicly signal a new dawn of partnership for progress between the Charismatic Bishops conference of Nigeria and the federal government of Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The Awardees thanked the President of the Charismatic Bishops conference of Nigeria for finding them worthy for the award and the conference came to a close after a visit to the Secretary to the government of the federation who also received the award in his office from the Charismatic Bishops for partnership for progress. He called on the charismatic Bishops to continue to pray for the country, the government and that the government meant well for the people, and there are a lot of good plans for the country. The over 600 charismatic Bishops that attended the conference have returned home safely by the grace of God”. The statement said.

“On the first day, the Bishops came from 21 countries. All Nigerian Bishops from 21 countries numbering over 500 in the first day. They sang and praised God, prayed for Nigeria earnestly.

“The second day of the event, the Bishops processed into the national Christian Centre, they arrived at the auditorium and settled down for the business of the national synods of the charismatic Bishops conference of Nigeria. We started with teachings, workshop, and with prayer sessions and songs for the country and the high point of the day which is June 12, 2024 was the approval stamp of the federal government in partnership with the charismatic Bishops conference of Nigeria signalled by the arrival of the Minister of Information who visited the Bishops and addressed the Bishops. He called on the President of the Bishops to serve on President Tinubu’s initiative on national orientation in Nigeria”. The statement added.

“Part of the activities that took place at the conference was the elevation of Archbishop Kawas to the title of President General from National President of Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria.”

“With the fact that the Synod is celebrating its 10^th anniversary which witnessed the participation of Nigerians from 21 countries, which has never happened before, the synod resolved to amend the title of their President from National President to President General. So Archbishop Kawas was unanimously, after a motion moved and seconded, received the approval of the house of the Synod to go by the title of President General.”

“The over 500 Charismatic Bishops that attended the Synod all left with great joy thanking God because many of them were visiting Abuja for the very first time.”

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