BY JULIET EKWENUGO, Kaduna
The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reverse the latest increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), warning that it could further worsen the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
The forum made the call in a statement signed by its chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, expressing concern over the rising cost of living and what it described as deteriorating living conditions across the country.
NOSCEF said Nigerian families were already grappling with hunger, insecurity, unemployment, rising transportation costs and declining purchasing power, adding that further increases in petroleum prices would put additional pressure on households.
“We ask Mr. President: How can the government continue to increase the cost of living while millions of Nigerians are struggling to survive?” the forum asked.
The Christian elders urged the Federal Government to explore sustainable and less burdensome sources of revenue rather than repeatedly transferring the cost of financing government programmes to citizens.
“If the government requires additional revenue to finance its programmes and obligations, it must explore sustainable and less burdensome alternatives rather than repeatedly passing the cost onto citizens who are already struggling to make ends meet,” NOSCEF said.
The forum also urged Tinubu to use the remaining period of his administration to address what it described as the urgent needs of Nigerians, including restoring purchasing power, creating jobs, improving security and rehabilitating critical infrastructure.
It maintained that citizens’ welfare should take precedence over political considerations and urged the government to implement measures capable of providing tangible economic relief.
“NOSCEF believes that the welfare of Nigerians must come before political calculations about future elections,” the group said.
While acknowledging that the administration had made efforts in some areas, the elders said the continuing economic difficulties showed that more needed to be done to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
The forum also cautioned the president against relying solely on favourable assessments of the economy from government officials and others around him.
“We therefore appeal to President Tinubu not to be insulated from the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians by praise-singers or officials who may present a more favourable picture of the economy,” NOSCEF said.
The group said its members lived and worked among ordinary Nigerians and experienced the difficulties confronting them.
“Our members live among the people, worship with them, work with them, and experience their struggles. We cannot pretend not to see what is happening around us,” it said.
NOSCEF further called for measures to reduce the cost of living, create employment opportunities for young Nigerians, strengthen efforts to tackle insecurity and accelerate the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure.
“The patience of Nigerians should not be mistaken for acceptance of perpetual hardship,” the forum warned.
It urged the government to demonstrate empathy, listen to citizens and take decisive action to prevent further deterioration in their living conditions.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us, and the suffering of one Nigerian should concern every responsible leader,” NOSCEF said.
