Yesterday, the Catholic Church urged the Federal Government to subsidize essential food items rather than distributing palliatives to select individuals for personal gain.
Archbishop Gabriel Leke Abegunrin of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan conveyed this message during a conversation with journalists at the Justice, Development, and Peace Commission in Ibadan.
The cleric proposed that rather than providing palliatives to a limited few, who may misuse them for personal benefit, it would be more beneficial for the government to subsidize the expensive food items available in markets, thereby making them accessible to the broader population.
Abegunrin said: “If the food items are subsidized, it will go round and eventually reach Nigerians. We often hear of palliatives being distributed but we never see them. We hope that the social welfare package should be extended to citizens of the state.
“We would also like to see funds allocated for the good of the people to be used for the purpose and not the endless accusations and counter-accusations that our political leaders continue to engage in, in the hallowed chambers.”
Surrounded by Reverend Jerome Ajakaye, Coordinator of JDPC, along with Mrs. Moji Ladipo, former Registrar of the University of Ibadan, and various clergy members, Archbishop Abegunrin expressed concerns over the economic crisis exacerbated by the heightened distress and anxiety stemming from the correlation between the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the National Identification Number (NIN).
He said: “While the government may be well-intentioned, the implementation has caused much distress and anxiety. After the cashless policy and scarcity of Naira in 2023, the banking sector must not be seen again as causing pain and stress to citizens who want to have easy access to their money.”
He commented that the Federal Government’s claims regarding the escalating incidents of kidnapping and banditry are simply deceitful to the Nigerian populace.
He said: “They once said they have identified those sponsoring banditry and they have failed to bring them to justice. Economic hardship often leads to deviant behaviours; many communities have resorted to policing their communities, especially at night.
“The government is called upon to ensure that the various security outfits in the state provide security for all and sundry. If this is lacking, individuals will resort to jungle justice as we have been witnessing in recent times.
The church issued a renewed appeal to the government, urging the return of schools to their respective church owners.
“The time has come for these schools to be returned. Results from many Catholic Schools throughout the nation lend credence to this. With her track record of academic excellence and wholistic education and formation of young people, the state stands to gain if and when schools are returned to their original owners.”#palliatives
