•Hail students loan scheme, road rehabilitation, new minimum wage, others
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Catholic Bishops under the umbrella of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has noted that Nigeria is witnessing some positive development lately.
This was contained in the communique of the 2025 first plenary meeting of the CBCN released in Abuja, yesterday, on the theme, ‘Jubilee of Hope: A light for a better Nigeria.’
This was, perhaps, contrary to their earlier statement last Sunday that Nigeria might face imminent crisis from the youths due to growing unemployment and hopelessness, stressing the need for urgent action from the Federal Government to address the growing challenges, particularly unemployment, insecurity and several other challenges.
CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru, who signed the communique admitted that the Federal Government had taken some measures that seem to be strengthening the economy of Nigeria.
He said: “Our nation has recently witnessed some positive development. These 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, and the reduction in the debt service-to-revenue ratio, as well as the proposal for new tax regime.”
He commended the cheering strides made by governments at various levels to promote agriculture, and equally appreciated the efforts of some security operatives, who often put their lives on the line to fight the criminality and put an end to their savagery.
The Catholic Bishops thus prayed for healing for the wounded and eternal life for the dead. “Nevertheless, our nation still has some serious challenges bordering on harsh socio-economic situations, persistent insecurity across the nation, rising youth unemployment and restiveness.
“There is a high cost of food and other essential commodities. Cases of kidnapping and the mindless killing of innocent people still abound. We invite all to always pursue actions that make for unity and national integration.
“Again, we request our political, religious and traditional leaders to promote the spirit of national integration in the citizenry in order to instil hope and development.
“We demand that those governments that ordered the closure of all schools in some parts of the country should withdraw in the light of the rights of the children to education and the multi-religious nature of our society.
“We, as a 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.”
The church leaders thus encouraged all eligible citizens to come out en masse and participate in future elections, appealing that the disappointments in the conduct of 2023 general elections should not discourage them from participating in future electoral activities.
They called for the strengthening of electoral laws and sincere execution of duties by state agents, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the courts in order to restore trust in the electoral system.
“We also 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.”