Catholic bishops caution against soft landing for bandits

From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CCBN) has cautioned against treating criminals and terrorists with leniency, emphasising that they should face the full weight of the law.

In a communique signed by its President and Secretary, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji and Most Reverend Augustine Echema, the bishops also commended the government and security institutions in Imo, Abia and other Southeastern states for the relative, which made it possible for people to return home for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The bishops stressed that the security and welfare of citizens should remain the government’s top priority, citing Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution. They urged governments to sustain efforts in reducing security-related crimes and develop new strategies to combat increasingly sophisticated forms of insecurity.

Their communique reads in parts: “We encourage our governments at both the state and federal levels to ensure that this duty to secure the lives and property of our people remains their top-most priority. The gains of successes achieved in reducing security related crimes over the years should be sustained and new strategies are to be developed to meet the challenges of increasingly sophisticated forms of insecurity in our land.

“Criminals and terrorists should no longer be treated with kid-gloves but should be made to face the full weight of the law. Such measures will not only serve the purpose of future deterrence but will boost the confidence of security personnel on whose shoulders lie the

duty of protecting the lives and property of our people.”

The communique also addressed the issues of the tax reforms.

“Paying of tax is a necessary duty which every citizen owes his or her country. In turn, government has the duty of responsible use of taxpayers money to provide basic amenities for the improvement of the living standards of her citizens.

“Many people have expressed their views on the timing of the tax reforms: For some, it is ill-timed given that it adds to the burden of the average Nigerian who is yet to grapple

with several other economic policies of this same government. For others, it is long overdue that the average Nigerian be made to pay income tax, irrespective of whether the person is working with the government or not.

“The merit of both positions notwithstanding, there is need to enlighten the average Nigerian on what the new tax reform policy stipulates regarding who should pay, what constitutes a taxable income, how much to pay and what penalties apply if one defaults.

“As a Church, we shall play our role in contributing to the awareness drive to enlighten our people on the civic duty of payment of taxes while insisting that the government exhibits transparency and accountability for the responsible use of taxpayers’ money for the common good. Digitisation of records and maintenance of harmonized databases is one of the keyways of reducing the fears of multiple taxation and

attaining efficiency in the taxation system.

“A digitised, transparent taxation system and proper utilisation of tax returns will go a long way in the restoration of the citizens’ confidence on government taxation policies.”

On welfare of workers and retirees, the bishops said: “We are deeply concerned about the welfare of workers and retirees. Many workers face delayed salaries, just as many retirees grapple with unpaid pensions, and poor living conditions. Work is a sacred duty and a means through which human dignity is expressed. We therefore call

on employers, both public and private, to ensure just wages, prompt payment of salaries, and humane working conditions.

“We urge government authorities to address the plight of retirees by ensuring timely payment of pensions and gratuities, enabling them to live their

retirement years with dignity and peace.”