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Chief Omolabi Salis, Nigeria’s first certified astronaut, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the concerns raised by Catholic Bishops, led by former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, over the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.
Salis, chartered accountant and lawyer, made the call while speaking from the United States, saying the views of the Catholic Bishops should not be ignored because of their experience, leadership positions and close contact with Nigerians across different social and economic groups.
He said Catholic Bishops had consistently demonstrated the courage to speak on national issues and urged the Federal Government to give serious consideration to their interventions.
According to Salis, the clergy are well positioned to assess the condition of Nigerians because of their regular interaction with people across different communities and economic backgrounds. “The truth is that so many people are dying. It is those who are concerned who feel it.”
Salis described Onaiyekan as “a consistent voice of reason that cannot be ignored.” He expressed concern over the worsening economic hardship in the country, saying he had received numerous requests for financial assistance from Nigerians struggling to meet their basic needs.
The astronaut said he had committed a significant portion of his resources to supporting poor families in Nigeria but expressed concern about the scale of the hardship.
Salis urged the Tinubu administration to reconsider its approach to economic reforms and remain conscious of its responsibility to the people.
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“The government needs to change strategy. The President needs to constantly remind himself of the onerous responsibility of governance of the people.” He also called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor, saying government policies should be assessed by their impact on vulnerable Nigerians.
While acknowledging efforts by the government to reduce food prices, Salis said the affordability of food remained a major challenge because many Nigerians lacked the purchasing power to meet their basic needs.
He said the challenge was not only the availability of food but also the ability of poor households to afford it.
Salis identified corruption as another major factor undermining the effective delivery of government resources to citizens.
He said wealthy Nigerians were largely insulated from the effects of the food crisis, stressing that the immediate priority should be to ensure that poor households had access to basic necessities.
He urged the Federal Government to strengthen accountability and ensure that resources earmarked for vulnerable Nigerians reached the intended beneficiaries.
Salis said Nigerians were looking to the government for measures that would provide meaningful relief from the economic difficulties confronting the country.
