AFRICA/NIGERIA - Bishops: “foreign debt is a new form of slavery for present and future generations”

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “The debt burden has turned out to be a new form of enslavement if present and future generations” say the Bishops of Nigeria, in the statement published at the end of their second Plenary Assembly held from 22 to 30 August in the diocese of Auchi, in Edo State.
In the document, the Bishops recall the right of Nigerians to peacefully protest against the economic policy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Our people have recently embarked on a protest as the Nigerian economy continues to deteriorate and reduces most Nigerians to a life of cruel suffering and wretchedness.
We note that Nigerians have the constitutional right of expression to show their grievances through peaceful protests”.
Unfortunately, the Bishops point out, the protests have been diverted by criminal elements, while “security agents, who are normally supposed to protect citizens during protests, have resorted to threats, intimidation and blackmail to deter citizens from protesting, and in some cases have been reported to have committed extrajudicial executions”.
The austerity policy decided by the government is dictated by the service of the Nigerian public debt.
“We note that the service of the huge debt to international monetary bodies and, consequently, the raising of funds internally to balance budget deficits have led to the current economic reforms of the government, consisting mainly of the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and the fluctuation of the national currency (Naira). We are aware that these reforms have triggered rampant inflation that has reduced the majority of Nigerians to a life of cruel suffering and misery,” the Bishops say. “We therefore call on the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider its economic reform policies in order to alleviate the burden of hardship on the citizens and encourage the development of the people.”
The statement suggests the adoption of certain policies to mitigate the impact of inflation on the population. First, supporting farmers with subsidies, soft loans, modern technologies and improved (but not genetically modified) seeds, and providing aid to small and medium-sized food businesses. There is also an urgent need to reform the tax system, which currently consists of a series of federal, state and local taxes that strangle businesses. Finally, at the ecclesial level, the Bishops warn the faithful against “those who, declaring themselves Catholic, establish “ministries” that are not under the pastoral or spiritual guidance of any competent ecclesiastical authority. Indeed, no ministry, association or institution can bear the name of Catholic without the express permission of the competent authority.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 2/9/2024)

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