By Fr. Anthony Adetayo

As the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) concludes her first 2022 plenary which held between Saturday 5 March, 2022, and Thursday 10 March, 2022 with a closing Mass at CSN, Durumi, Abuja, the Conference carved some admonitions to the nation and to the government specially in her communiqué.

The Bishops observed that politicians must promote fraternity through good Politics and Governance. According to the Catholic Bishops “We note that politics is a noble vocation for the common good. We equally affirm that political office holders have a fundamental role to play in providing good governance. Although political parties are the platforms through which political offices are sought in Nigeria, elected officials should build fraternity among all citizens irrespective of differences in creed, ethnic group, sex, and political opinion.

In continuation of the elaboration of the challenges faced by the country and her youthful population, the Bishops emphasized “There is also no functional, stable, qualitative and affordable educational system that should be the bedrock of development. Currently, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is on strike with the consequent closure of our public universities, thereby leaving our young people roaming the streets. We urge the Federal Government to quickly and permanently settle the dispute in the interest of human and national growth.”

The communiqué which treated a lot of issues bothering on how the country can be better governed was duly signed by the outgoing President of the Bishops’ Conference, Most. Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze and the Secretary, Most Rev. Camillus Raymond Umoha.

As a group that is vocal in Nigeria speaking for the voiceless, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria demands a permanent solution from the Federal Government of Nigeria hoping that the government will take the needful steps to address the menace of strike in order to keep the Nigerian students in school receiving education.