On July 21st 2023, The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) implored the federal government to consider doing more than the cash transfers used as palliative, and put into concern the introduction of mass transport in all states to aid a reduction in the cost of transportation. Daniel Okoh, the President of CAN, stated that the mass transport system in all states will have q huge multiplier effect. He said in an interview that fuel subsidy palliative done by the government ought to be more than Cash transfer. Okoh suggested that the introduction of mass transport should be considered by the government to help decrease the cost of transportation while taking necessary measures such as restoration of functional local refineries, stabilisation of the foreign exchange market, and removal of taxes and levies on imported Petroleum products.
He also urged Nigerians to work together and be patient in order to build an inclusive Economy that is capable to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive. CAN implored the government to take immediate actions to reduce the suffering faced by citizens. Nevertheless, he appraised the government for its interventions recently which gives room for standard governance in the country. He highlighted that the appointment of service chiefs is assuring with the provision of national balance and critical execution of the Nigerian project by every segment in the society.
Financial difficulties encountered by Nigerians call for urgent action.
Therefore, the Christian Association of Nigeria applauded the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring dedication towards a progressive nation and building a united Nigeria. The declaration of the removal of fuel subsidy has become irrevocable if the Economy of Nigeria is to ensure sustainable growth due to the detriment of massive Corruption. Nevertheless, the agreement the association came into conclusion with was to withdraw Nigerians from subjected hardships. Hence, realism must be balanced with idealism.
The national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria expressed their solemn disagreement against the Inflation of fuel prices and alarming unprecedented hikes. This also concerns the ravaging difficulties encountered by Nigerians which calls for instant action to ameliorate the situation. When the hike on fuel prices was at N540 and Nigerians were making efforts to adjust to its huge effects on the cost of food, transportation, goods and service and total cost of living, another fuel hike increased the price to N617.
It is important to build a comprehensive strategy for the economy.
Also, the hike placed huge burden on struggling people by further spacing the gap between the rich and the poor, making it extremely hard for average people to afford basic necessities of life; and millions of Nigeria are experiencing this unbearable Poverty due to the fuel hikes. CAN identified the difficult and complex decisions that the federal government must execute in order to maintain the economy of the nation through the immediate priority of measures that will reduce hardship and poverty level in Nigeria instead fueling it.
Thus, it is compulsory that the economic policies are drafted and executed with proper consideration on the predominate hardships encountered by Nigerians. CAN appealed to the federal government as a case of urgent attention to evaluate the recommendations: partnership between government and relevant stakeholders in an understandable dialogue to ensure Sustainable Solutions to the ongoing situation. It is important to build a comprehensive strategy for the economy that will enhance social well-being, job creation and inclusive growth.
Suffering is a feature of prosperity but must not be difficult to endure.
To reduce dependency on fluctuating commodities, the government should channel its focus to the promotion of investments in sectors, while diversifying the economy with the ability to build sustainable employment opportunities. With this, the well-being of the masses will be assured and taken care of. CAN added that suffering is a feature of prosperity but must not be too difficult to endure. This further charged the government to examine the consequences of the policy on the weak sector of the society and make sure that the masses are not burdened with unnecessary hardships. The government should address the occurring hardship caused by the hike in fuel price and inflation.
