Consider Other Palliatives Aside Cash Transfer, CAN Urges FG
The Christian Association of Nigeria on Friday called on the Federal Government to ensure that the fuel subsidy palliatives being considered should go beyond cash transfers.
The FG, CAN said, should consider the introduction of mass transport across the states to reduce the cost of transportation. According to CAN, the introduction of mass transport scheme will have a profound multiplier effect.
“The fuel subsidy palliatives being considered by the government should go beyond cash transfers. Government should consider introducing mass transport across the states to reduce the cost of transportation. The multiplier effect of this will be profound.
“Government should take measures to reduce the price of fuel. Such measures should include removal of unnecessary levies and taxes on imported petroleum products, the stabilisation of the foreign exchange market, and putting back our local refineries to functional and effective use,” CAN stated.
While appealing to Nigerians for more patience, CAN also urged the government to take urgent steps to ameliorate the sufferings of the citizens.
The President of CAN, Daniel Okoh, who said these in a statement issued in Abuja said Nigerians should “work together to build an economy that is inclusive, resilient, and offers opportunities for every Nigerian to thrive.”
According to him, CAN believes that the trajectory which the present administration had set from the onset to provide all-inclusive governance was worthy of commendation.
The statement reads, “The national balance seen in the recent appointment of service chiefs is heart-warming and reassuring that every segment of the Nigerian society is critical in the Nigerian project.
“The Christian Association of Nigeria, therefore, commends the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for showing commitment towards building a united, peaceful, and progressive Nigeria.
“Given the massive corruption that had characterised the fuel subsidy regime over the years, there was a general consensus that the removal of fuel subsidy had become inevitable if the Nigerian economy is to experience sustainable growth. However, it was also generally agreed that this must be done in such a way that Nigerians will not be subjected to untold hardship. In other words, what is idealistic must be balanced with what is realistic.
“Against the backdrop of the recent unprecedented hikes in fuel prices and alarming inflation, the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria wishes to express its deepest concerns over the prevailing hardships faced by Nigerians and calls for immediate steps to mitigate the situation.
“While Nigerians were trying to adjust to the initial increase in the fuel price to N540 and its consequential effect on the cost of transportation, food, goods and services, and the general cost of living, another hike alluded to market forces took the price to N617.
“This has placed an enormous burden on the already struggling masses, further widening the gap between the rich and the poor and drastically eroding the purchasing power of ordinary citizens, and making it extremely difficult for them to afford the basic necessities of life.
“The situation is just unbearable for millions of Nigerians who were already suffering poverty. While CAN acknowledges the complex and difficult decisions that government must take to manage the nation’s economy, there is an urgent need to prioritize measures that will alleviate rather than exacerbate the existing poverty level and hardships of Nigerians. It is therefore imperative that economic policies are formulated and implemented with utmost care and consideration for the prevailing hardships experienced by Nigerians.
