Christian Elders Condemn Hardship In Tinubu’s Govt

The Nigerian Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has condemned increasing hardship in the country as a result of government policies.

Naijaonpoint reports that NCEF Chairman and former Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Samuel Danjuma Dani, said the hardship Nigerians face was avoidable.

In a statement in Abuja, Christian Elders noted that the country was becoming more divided as a result of insecurity and religious persecution suffered by Christians, particularly in the North.

The Forum highlighted that the secularity of Nigeria was being challenged and called on the government to uphold the secularity of the nation.

“Nigeria remains a deeply divided country with many non-state actors putting pressure on its security. While we appreciate the efforts of the military and the other security units, the matter of religious divide remains a thorny issue and religious discrimination is yet to be fully addressed by the government. In many parts of Northern Nigeria, violation of citizens rights to religious belief is still common. The secularity of the Nigerian State is openly challenged by some relentless religious extremists,” it said.

Govt Policies, Corruption Are Cause of Hardship

The Dani-led NCEF noted that hunger in the country was caused by government policies, including the removal of petrol subsidy, that were not tenured to favour the citizens.

Christian Elders also explained that corruption of the political class was another factor pushing more Nigerians below the poverty line.

The Forum called on the government to give more consideration to the welfare of citizens in its policies. NCEF advocated for a

“National Christian Elders Forum is deeply worried about the hardship Nigerians are facing due to hyperinflation in the country. Several factors are responsible for the distressing condition the country is in.

“The main causes of the distress in the land are the dysfunctional policies of government in the past few years, the unbridled corruption amongst government officials, and the perennial attacks on farmers by religious insurgents.

“Oil is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy and any shift in its price, locally and internationally, has ripple effects on every other sector in the country. Over the years, government has claimed to subsidize local consumption of fuel. Credible reports confirm that the subsidy regime was corrupted, and some analysts believe it should be removed.

“While NCEF agrees that channels of corruption should be blocked in the country, the impact of government policies on the populace should receive greater consideration. A sudden removal of fuel subsidy without any mitigating plan cannot be applauded as progressive government policy. It is akin to cutting the head to stop headache.

“NCEF believes that it is better to combat the corruption in the subsidy regime rather than subject the citizens to undue suffering. Developed nations of the world engage in various subsidy programs for their citizens. When former President Jonathan increased the price of fuel to ₦120 per litre in 2012, Nigerians came out with the slogan ‘Kill Corruption; Do Not Kill Nigerians’. That call is more relevant today.

“The Tinubu administration removed fuel subsidy on its first day in office and the price of fuel rose from ₦195 per litre to ₦540. A few months later it rose to ₦617 per litre while it currently hovers around ₦1,000 per litre. Meanwhile, government is struggling to pay minimum wage of ₦70,000 per month. The minimum wage which government could not pay is what citizens are required to pay to fill the tank of their vehicles. The inflationary pressure this policy is exerting on the country is distressing,” it stated

Christian Elders further called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritize the welfare of the citizens. They urged the President to put up policies that would address the hardship citizens are facing.