Bishops To FG: Defective Structures Deepening Poverty In Nigeria

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, (CBCN), has blamed poverty, hunger, hardship and suffering Nigerians are currently subjected to on defective structures.

The Bishop said  the failing and worsening economy has continued to make living difficult and hard for the people calling on the Federal Government to address the fundamental defective structures that deepened inequality and poverty in the country.

The CBCN in a communique issued at the end of its second plenary meeting held in Abuja noted that the conditions has been aggravated by the removal of fuel subsidy which has led to high cost of food items, transportation and meeting up with other essential needs.

The communique jointly signed by the President, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji and Secretary, Bishop Donatus Ogun, was made available to newsmen in Ekiti State yesterday  by Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Bishop Felix Ajakaye.

The Bishops in the  communique titled : “Religion, Civic Responsibility And the Building Of A Better Nigeria”, said the hike in school fees has made it difficult for the children of the poor to continue their education.

“We considered the resort to palliative measures as a treatment of the symptom  rather than the cure of the disease”.

They called on governments at all levels to provide the enabling environment for the creation of more jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in Nigeria, urging the government to  put in place measures that will curb the persistent theft of oil and other minerals.

“We enjoin the government to radically review programmes aimed at alleviating the suffering of the youths.  We equally advise the youth not to resort to violence and crime as a substitute for hard work”

“We reject the ever increasing scandalous comfort and remuneration of elected leaders to the detriment of the poor”

“We, therefore demand that the government cut the increasing cost of running government in our country and that the money saved be used to provide essential amenities and services,” he said