Let poor Nigerians breath 2024, Archbishop Martins tells Tinubu
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has called on the Federal Government to key into economic policies that would help to reposition the economy and bring solace to the impoverished masses.
The cleric disclosed this in a statement as part of the New Year message by the Director of Communication, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu on Friday in Lagos.
The message to the president comes as the naira suffered a new low against the dollar at the official market on Thursday, December 28th, 2023, at N1,043.09 per dollar.
This marks a huge decrease of 16.35% from its prior closing rate, indicating a concerning trend just three days before 2024.
Amid the economic downturn characterized by naira scarcity, pressure for fuel hike, and high cost of living, a recent Bloomberg report predicted that the Nigerian currency is poised for its worst year since the return to democracy in 1999, urging Nigerians to expect a further naira depreciation in 2024.
Nigeria has also been plagued with securities challenges, the latest was the killing of 195 persons in 17 communities across Plateau State on Christmas Eve by gunmen.
As Nigerians prepare for the new year, the Lagos cleric urged the Tinubu-led administration and all political leaders nationwide to make 2024 a joyous year for Nigerians.
Taking note of that the 2023 races as a political decision year with every one of its crisis, was described by untold difficulty for a huge number of Nigerians because of the significant expense of essential commodities, the archbishop charged government to put forth more coordinated attempt to utilize all assets accessible, even across partisan principals to design out strategies that would assist with reducing the untold difficulty that greater part of Nigerians are going through.
He said, “the increase in the pump price of petroleum products and the drastic loss in the value of the naira, among other factors, have grossly affected the purchasing power of most Nigerians and they are finding it difficult to keep their heads above water. This along with the insecurity in the country has led many of the best brains in the country to being sucked out of the country as they yield to the Japa syndrome. Those of us who remain are struggling to breathe, as they say. This is unacceptable. As we enter into the year 2024, we call on government, at all levels, to lock its focus on economic policies that would help to rejig the economy and bring solace to the impoverished masses. Government must listen to the cries of poor Nigerians.
“Oftentimes, political expediency and patronage militate against even good policies. So, we expect that if President Tinubu wishes to write his name in gold, he must begin from now to use all resources available, human, and material, and not allow politics and political expediency to stand in the way of common good and the welfare of the majority. All that Nigerians ask for is working out policies that would bring down the high cost of foodstuff, reduce transportation costs, and provide gainful employment for the jobless, especially the youths.”
Martins urged Tinubu, the state governors, and members of the National and State Houses of Assembly to be exemplary leaders through sacrifices by reducing the cost of governance and the many travels that do not have positive impact on masses.
He said government should reduce the number of vehicles being purchased for officials by the National Assembly and Executives arms of government, especially, adding is the sheer number of people that attend international meetings and turn them into jamborees.
While calling on Nigerians to cooperate with their leaders to ensure peace and economic stability in the New Year, Archbishop Martins called on government to urgently tackle persistent salary issues that affected Nigerian workers, particularly Resident Doctors, and University lecturers, amongst several others.
He felicitated all Nigerians for witnessing another new year, urging them to be hopeful and to keep their minds positive about the year 2024 while praying that it would be a prosperous and fruitful year for all Nigerians.
