They say, “More investment is needed in agriculture to facilitate the involvement of the youth in it and boost the provision of food in a sustainable manner. With improved security and safety for farmers, there will be greater production of food and reduction in the escalated cost of food all over Nigeria.”
In the statement, the Bishops also highlight other measures to make Nigeria a better country and call for collective effort in fostering unity and national integration. They say, “We request our political, religious and traditional leaders to promote the spirit of national integration in the citizenry in order to instill hope and development.”
The Bishops highlight some of the hindrances to national integration in the West African nation, including the closure of schools in some Nigerian States for the period of Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims.
“We demand that those governments that ordered the closure of all schools in some parts of the country withdraw such orders in the light of the rights of the children to education and the multi-religious nature of our society,” they say in the statement that their Secretary, Bishop Donatus Ogun of Uromi Diocese, also signed.
The Catholic Bishops in Africa’s most populous nation add, “We, as Church, promote integral education, health care, and agriculture for individual and national development, and we require the enabling environment to play these roles among others.”
CBCN members also urge Nigerians to forego the disappointments that emanated from the 2023 general elections and “come out en masse and participate in future elections” for a better country.
The Bishops go on to advocate for the strengthening of electoral laws and sincere execution of duties through state agents such as the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, and the courts to restore trust in the electoral system.
“We urge our people to refuse to be cowed to silence and helplessness, but rather insist always on doing the right thing and having it done,” they say.
The Bishops, however, laud the government for “some positive development” which they say include, “the reinvigoration of the Petroleum Industry, the rehabilitation of some dilapidated roads and the construction of new ones across the nation.”
The introduction of the student loan scheme, the new minimum wage, the reduction in the debt service-to-revenue ratio, and the proposal for a new tax regime are some of the developments the Bishops have commended the government for.
