IBADAN, January 6, 2012 (CISA) –Nigerian catholic bishops from Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have strongly opposed the Nigerian federal government’s move on fuel subsidy.The bishops said, “It is immoral to impose removal of petroleum subsidy on economically weakened Nigerians while political office holders continue to live in embarrassing opulence.”
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Ibadan Province comprising of Ibadan, Ondo, Oyo, Ilorin, Ekiti, and Osogbo dioceses also said, “The powers of state should never have been used to impose removal of petroleum subsidy without putting in place concrete definable measures to cushion the emasculating effects of such an action on the most vulnerable segments of the Nigerian population.”
According to their press statement sent to CISA the bishops stated, “Before removing the subsidy, the Federal Government alluded to huge irregularities and corruption associated with the provision of petroleum products in Nigeria. It took no action to prosecute anyone as a consequence of its discovery.”
They said that the government took no action to prosecute anyone because of its discovery and took no action to protect or support the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians.
The bishops were concerned that the harsh consequences of the eventual removal of subsidy, has been instantaneous adding that many Nigerians who went to their hometowns and villages to celebrate Christmas and the New Year could not even afford the cost of returning to their places of work.
The clergy advised that the first duty of government is to guarantee the security of life and property of Nigerians adding, “To remove subsidy as a way of forestalling fraud is to punish the already vulnerable and victimized Nigerian consumer.”
They expressed disappointment at the unpopular decision and deplored the fact that economic considerations were prioritized over moral implications and immediate public interests in the timing of the subsidy removal.
SOURCE: http://www.cisanewsafrica.com/?p=3784
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