The Christian Association of Nigeria on Sunday condemned the economic policies of President Muhamadu Buhari, including the ban on foreign goods and devaluation of the currency, saying they appear to lack human face.
The ban on foreign goods by the Federal Government, CAN said, would lead to smuggling and huge revenue loses, adding that the devaluation of the currency, “led to galloping inflation to the extent that the cost of living has risen and makes life unbearable for people.”
The President of CAN, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, was quoted as saying this in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media and Communications), Adebayo Oladeji, while delivering a sermon entitled ‘It is not beyond God’s control’ at the on-going International General Workers Conference and Ordination Interview of the Nigerian Baptist Convention in Abuja.
He said, “Fowls used to be a common gift to friends during Christmas celebration. During the just-ended celebration, it hardly featured as Christmas gift item. Humanly speaking, things are tough for many. Businesses that are foreign-currency dependent are closing down and people are loosing their jobs.
“This economic policy appears to lack human face. What is the essence of banning foreign goods when the government has not been able to make such goods locally available in abundance? Such ban would just encourage smuggling and a lot of revenue would be lost by the government.
“The inability of the government to pay salaries not only in the States, but at Federal level as well, is a bid dent on the government. My Bible says that the worker deserves prompt payment of his or her wages. Of course, the Bible says that the wages must not be delayed till the next day.
“This delay in the payment of salaries has in turn affected the operations of many private organisations including the church. Our economy is public-sector driven. So, to a large extent, whatever is the economic policy of government has excruciating challenge over all other sectors.”
Ayokunle also condemned the inability of the government to create jobs for youths, warning that the earlier the government did something about it, the better for everybody.
He said, “University graduates are roaming the streets without anything to do. Those who are working have too many mouths of the unemployed adults to feed. This has increased the level of poverty in our nation and job creation remains a big challenge the government must pay serious attention to. The increasing wave of kidnapping may not be unconnected with the lack of tangible employment for many of our able bodied youths.
“Kidnapping used to be rampant in the East but has almost become a lucrative business now in the West and North. It is a very bad experience that Nigerians do not deserve to be passing through. A special squad if possible should be trained with necessary surveillance equipment to fish out these criminals who are in the business of kidnapping for ransom. If the government claims that they are doing something, they must do more,”
While condemning the refusal of the Federal Government to stop “the biting killings and destruction of farms by the Fulani herdsmen” and the Southern Kaduna massacre of Christians, Ayokunle described the response from the law enforcement agents as “so lethargic that CAN had to call for national day of mourning and prayer to seek God’s face so that the destruction might stop.”
“No one that died untimely in that unchecked mayhem deserved to die. The killings of the Agatus and other citizens in Benue State under the watch of both State and Federal Governments were unfortunate and should be stopped immediately”, he stressed. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
"Economic Policies lack human face" Same thing we all said when Obj started his own economic revival. A few years later we were celebrating the results. Naija sha, we so like to eat our cake and have it ehn
ReplyDeleteI know can will never lake our president because his name is Muhammad bukhari
ReplyDeleteCAN has now become the appendage of the opposition party who now use them in proxy to attack the government. No wonder the Catholic faith has withdrawn their membership when CAN started to dabble into politics... We all remember their past president pastor Ayo Oritshejafor and the smuggled $19 Million Dollars to South Africa and the lies and cover-up that follows. CAN has completely lost focus and has derailed from the intent of its founding fathers.
ReplyDeleteIf you feel this government policies does not lack human face, then state one solution any of their policies has proffered to Nigeria's diverse problems.
ReplyDeleteMr can same bible said that your economy is not the economy of this nation. Don't be confused, instead pray for the good policies that the president has for this nation. Should we continue with importation? When shall we start producing and appreciating our own made in Nigeria goods? I believe this is the course the president is fighting
ReplyDeleteAll the previous commentators are deceiving themselves. Without been told, is this current economy policy favourable to you? You mentioned opposition party, one mentioned Catholic. Hypocrisy and insincerity color with ignorant, religion sentiment. This is what is killing us, many people are dying of hunger, which is glaring but some pretend as if it is not true. Just wait and see, time will tell.
ReplyDeleteThis CAN keeps getting mired in the muddy waters of politics and sadly not for the benefit of the masses. It is so blinded by partisanship that it has to issue a statement riddled with contradiction or how else do you condemn ban on importation and at the same time complain of currency devaluation and lack of jobs. The value of your currency is a function of the volume of your exports while employment is also based on your production. Reliance on imported goods negates these
ReplyDelete