How Tinubu’s Govt Is Making Hardship Worse

The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Lucius Ugorji, emphasized the worsening hardships faced by citizens due to the current administration’s reform agenda.

Delivering his remarks on Sunday at the start of the 2024 First Plenary Assembly of the CBCN in Abuja, Ugorji highlighted the challenges posed by inflation, making it difficult for Nigerians to afford basic necessities like food and medicine.

“The reform agenda of the present government has added to the plight of Nigerians,” Ugorji stated, referring to measures such as the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market. He lamented the sharp increase in fuel prices and the significant depreciation of the naira, leading to widespread economic struggles.

Ugorji underscored the dire consequences of the government’s economic reforms, noting the rise in poverty, suffering, and hardship among millions of Nigerians. He highlighted the alarming trend of increased begging and the staggering number of citizens living below the poverty line, as reported by the World Bank.

“While many impoverished Nigerians continue to suffer and die as a result of the hardship caused by the government’s economic reforms, the president has continued to urge the populace to make even more and more sacrifices with the assurance that brighter days lay ahead,” he remarked.

Furthermore, Ugorji called for transparency in government spending and demanded tangible reductions in the cost of governance across all levels. Despite significant allocations for security votes, he noted persistent insecurity, including a surge in kidnapping for ransom and escalating violence nationwide.