The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has expressed concern that the increase in school fees across the country has made it harder for disadvantaged children to continue their education.
The Catholic Bishops spoke in a communique published at the conclusion of the second plenary meeting in Abuja, which was signed by the President, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, and the Secretary, Bishop Donatus Ogun.
Bishop Felix Ajakaye, Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, made the statement accessible to journalists in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.
The bishops stated that Nigerians have been subjected to a life of poverty, hunger, misery, and suffering, which has been exacerbated by the elimination of fuel subsidies, “which has led to high costs of food items, transportation, and meeting up with other essential needs.”
The communique titled, ‘Religion, Civic Responsibility And the Building Of A Better Nigeria’, said, “We considered the resort to palliative measures as a treatment of the symptom rather than the cure of the disease.
“We called on governments at all levels to provide the enabling environment for the creation of more jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in Nigeria. Government should put in place measures that will curb the persistence 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.”