The federal government has described the Catholic Church as one of Nigeria’s most important development partners, reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening engagement with faith-based institutions in addressing the country’s pressing challenges.
This was as the Tinubu administration pointed out that the current economic hardship confronting Nigerians is only a passing phase that will ultimately give way to the benefits of ongoing reforms.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume disclosed this in a statement, against the backdrop of recent spat between the administration and leaders of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
The CBCN, led by its President, Matthew Ndagoso, met with President Tinubu, during which it outlined areas of concern in the country, which include security, quality tertiary education and limited spaces, sustaining gains of democracy, credible elections, and poverty.
The CBCN, led by its President, Matthew Ndagoso, met with Tinubu, during which it outlined areas of concern in the country, which include security, quality tertiary education and limited spaces, sustaining gains of democracy, credible elections, and poverty.
Archbishop Emeritus of Catholic Diocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, who was part of the delegation, would disclose on national television how the president argued with the delegation on the state of the nation.
The president reportedly told the clerics that everything in the country was working well despite the bishops’ concerns about the nation’s worsening economic situation.
According to the Cardinal, Tinubu’s reaction suggested that those around him were not giving him an accurate picture of the hardship Nigerians are experiencing.
He said Tinubu’s facial expression showed dissatisfaction with the bishops’ assessment of the economy and that, instead of accepting their concerns, he argued that the country’s economy was improving.
Reacting, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temotope Ajayi, described Onaiyekan’s action as an abuse of privilege.
“There is something fundamentally inappropriate about Cardinal John Onaiyekan granting a television interview to offer his own account and interpretation of what transpired during the private meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu. It is, in my view, an abuse of clerical privilege.”
Akume pointed out that the federal government is mindful of the invaluable contributions of the Catholic Church in education, healthcare, humanitarian services, peacebuilding and moral leadership.
According to him, the President continues to welcome honest advice and constructive engagement from religious institutions.
“The federal government has taken note of public reactions following the recent meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
“We wish to reaffirm our profound respect for the Catholic Church and its enduring contributions to Nigeria’s development through education, healthcare, humanitarian services, peacebuilding and moral guidance,” he stated.
The government scribe expressed the conviction that many of Nigeria’s challenges cannot be solved alone, arguing that partnerships with faith communities, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, the private sector and citizens remain indispensable to national development.
“Many of the challenges confronting our nation require partnership. Faith communities, traditional institutions, civil society, the private sector and citizens all have indispensable roles to play in promoting peace, strengthening social cohesion and advancing national development. Constructive engagement between government and these institutions is therefore not only welcome but essential,” Akume said.
During a recent meeting at the Presidential Villa, the bishops had expressed concern over worsening economic hardship, insecurity, democratic governance and the shrinking political space.
The controversy deepened after the former Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, defended the bishops’ position on television, insisting they were merely fulfilling their responsibility to “speak truth to power” and reflecting the genuine concerns of Nigerians rather than engaging in partisan politics.
His remarks drew sharp responses from senior government officials and supporters of the administration, triggering a public debate over the current administration’s response to criticism vis a vis the Church’s role in holding the government accountable.
But Akume said that the president as well as himself and his office would continue consultations with the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, other faith-based organisations and relevant stakeholders on issues raised during the meeting with the president, with a view to deepening collaboration in the national interest.
Akume noted that discussions between Tinubu and the bishops were candid, respectful and constructive, covering concerns over insecurity, economic hardship, education, public services, electoral credibility, political pluralism and religious freedom.
While acknowledging that there were differences in the assessment of some issues, he said such disagreements should not be interpreted as a breakdown in relations between both sides.
He explained that both parties equally recognised some progress recorded by the administration, including the implementation of the student loan scheme as well as recent successes by security agencies in securing the release of abducted schoolchildren and teachers.
On the economy, Akume admitted that many Nigerians were experiencing severe hardship, but maintained that the reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration were necessary to correct longstanding structural distortions and place the economy on a sustainable path.
He described the current pains as temporary, saying the government was investing massively in infrastructure, agriculture, power, healthcare and social intervention programmes to cushion the impact of the reforms and create the foundation for long term prosperity.
According to him, investments in major projects such as the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto Badagry Super Highway, rail transport, nationwide road construction and the transformation of Abuja’s road network were expected to stimulate economic activities and improve connectivity across the country.
Besides, he pointed out that the government was expanding food security initiatives through improved agricultural inputs, tractors and institutional support under the National Agricultural Land Development Agency (NALDA), while reforms in the electricity sector and health system were equally being pursued.
Defending the administration’s economic direction, Akume insisted that there was increasing evidence that the reforms were beginning to yield positive results.
“There is growing evidence that these reforms are yielding results. The foreign exchange market is becoming more stable, inflationary pressures are moderating, macroeconomic fundamentals are strengthening and investor confidence is returning,” he said.
He added that official data also pointed to sustained economic growth, moderation in headline inflation and easing food prices, stressing that the next phase of the reforms would focus on translating macroeconomic gains into lower living costs, quality jobs, improved public services and broader economic opportunities.
