The Catholic Church in Nigeria on Wednesday tasked the Federal Government to subsidize food items and stop giving palliatives to a few individuals for selfish ends.
The church, speaking through Archbishop Gabriel Leke Abegunrin of Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, told journalists at the Justice, Development and Peace Commission, in Ibadan, that instead of giving palliatives to a few people who will convert them to private use, it will be better if the government subsidizes the costly food items in the markets to make them affordable for the masses.
According to Archbishop Abegunrin: “If the food items are subsidized, it will go round and eventually reach Nigerians. We often hear of palliatives being distributed but we never see them. We hope that the social welfare package should be extended to citizens of the State.
“We would also like to see funds allocated for the good of the people to be used for the purpose and not the endless accusations and counter-accusations that our political leaders continue to engage in, in the hallowed chambers.”
Flanked by the Coordinator, JDPC, Reverend Jerome Ajakaye; former Registrar, University of Ibadan, Mrs Moji Ladipo, and other clerics of the church, Archbishop Abegunrin said the economic crisis is further compounded by much distress and anxiety occasioned by the linking of Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN).
The Catholic Archbishop added: “While the government may be well-intentioned, the implementation has caused much distress and anxiety. After the cashless policy and scarcity of Naira in 2023, the banking sector must not be seen again as causing pain and stress to citizens who want to have easy access to their money.”
On the rising wave of kidnapping and banditry, he said the Federal Government is just lying to Nigerians as “they once said they have identified those sponsoring banditry and they have failed to bring them to justice. Economic hardship often leads to deviant behaviours; many communities have resorted to policing their communities, especially at night.
“The government is called upon to ensure that the various security outfits in the State provide security for all and sundry. If this is lacking, individuals will resort to jungle justice as we have been witnessing in recent times.”
