Ask state govt to unconditionally return Catholic schools

 The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria have charged President Muhammadu Buhari to put in place systemic and institutional anti-corruption policies and strategies in the country.

 They also asked the state government to unconditionally return Catholic schools to the mission so that they can play their part in restoring integrity back to the education sector.

 The Bishops made this statement in a communiqué signed by the president, Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev Gabriel Abegunrin, and the secretary, Bishop of Ekiti, Most Rev Felix Ajakaye, at the end of their second plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held at the Ondo Diocesan Pastoral Centre Igoba, Akure, Ondo State.

 The gathering commended the Buhari-led administration “for the effort made so far in exposing corrupt practices and people in Nigeria.” They added that putting in “place a systemic and institutional anti-corruption policies and strategies would help ensure that the campaign outlasts the current administration.

 They also identified with the hard times, which Nigerians are going through. “We implore the government and employers at all levels to alleviate the situation by paying salaries and pension as a matter of justice. We call Nigerians to show solidarity to one another wherever necessary.”

 The meeting also addressed the challenges affecting the growth of the education sector in the country, suggesting that “in order to save the degenerated situation of the sector, our government needs to be more sincere in collaborating with partners and organisations, which have a proven track record in the sector. Not only do we need massive structural upgrade we also need thorough and pervasive moral rehabilitation for government educational administrators, teachers, pupils and students. This latter area is where the church is best suited to help.

 “For the umpteenth time therefore, we call on the state governments within our Province to unconditionally return Catholic schools so that we can fully participate in restoring the integrity of the education sector. The people of Nigeria, especially the South West, have always cherished holistic education and they deserve the right to receive it from all who have the competence and goodwill to offer it. 

 Part of the communiqué further reads: “In spite of some commendable effort by the security agencies we are still constantly assaulted with news of needless deaths in our country from ethnic conflicts, so-called herdsmen/farmers clashes, armed robbery, kidnapping, traffic accidents, lynching and even now, suicide. We call on all Nigerians to please respect the sanctity of human life.

 “We condemn the recent move by the Minister for Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, in collaboration with some foreign agencies to commit the Federal Government of Nigeria to increasing the culture of contraception and subsequently, abortion among our people. This is being done all in the name of providing better maternal health care and empowering our women.

 “As the elections in Edo and Ondo states draw near, we urge all who will contest the elections to commit themselves to nonviolence and fair play.

 “We urge the electoral umpires to be truly independent and fair. Since democracy is fundamentally about people, we call on all our people also to stand up for what is good and beneficial to the common good,” it read.