…Says talks with faith groups, civil society essential for peace, development

…Reaffirms commitment to reforms, democracy, security

THE Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has assured of the Federal Government’s sustained partnership with faith communities, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, the private sector and citizens, stressing that many of Nigeria’s pressing challenges can only be addressed through constructive engagement.

Akume said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will continue to deepen consultations with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), other faith-based organisations and relevant stakeholders on issues affecting the country.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Akume held that the government will continue to govern with openness, accountability and evidence-based policies even as it remains open to honest counsel.

He also assured that the government is neither seeking, nor in support of a one-party state, just as it remains deeply respectful of the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the spirit of true democracy.

Speaking on the recent engagement between President Tinubu and the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Akume said the government was also sustaining dialogue and conflict prevention through the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), describing collaboration with religious institutions as indispensable to advancing the national interest.

According to him, “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 such institutions is therefore, not only welcome but essential.”

Adding: “The Office of the SGF will continue consultations with the leadership of the Catholic Bishops Conference, other faith-based organisations and relevant stakeholders on the issues raised during the meeting and on areas where greater collaboration can advance the national interest.”

Akume said FG has taken note of public reactions following the meeting between President Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops, using the opportunity to reaffirm its profound respect for the Catholic Church and its enduring contributions to Nigeria’s development through education, healthcare, humanitarian services, peacebuilding and moral guidance.

According to him, government recognised the church as one of the country’s most important development partners while acknowledging that, like all faith communities, it has both the right and responsibility to speak on issues affecting the welfare of citizens and the country’s future.

He explained that discussions between the President and the Bishops were candid, respectful and constructive, covering concerns relating to security, economic hardship, public services, education, electoral credibility, political pluralism and religious freedom.

Akume added that both parties also acknowledged progress made under the administration, including the student loan programme and recent successes by security agencies in securing the release of abducted schoolchildren and teachers.

He noted that while there were areas of agreement and differences in assessment, such differences should not be interpreted as a breakdown in mutual respect or detract from the shared commitment to peace, unity and progress.

On the economy, the SGF acknowledged the hardship confronting the masses but described it as a passing phase, insisting that government policies were deliberately designed to confront the country’s challenges through investments in rail transport, the Sokoto-Badagry and Lagos-Calabar superhighways, road construction and rehabilitation nationwide, and the transformation of Abuja’s road network.

He said food security initiatives involving improved agricultural inputs, tractors and institutional support through the National Agricultural Land Development Agency (NALDA) were also being implemented to boost agricultural productivity.

Akume further stated that the administration had pursued improvements in electricity generation and distribution through CNG power stations and constitutional reforms allowing sub-national governments greater participation in the energy sector.

He added that health facilities at both primary and tertiary levels were being upgraded, while development commissions established across the country’s regions were creating jobs and addressing peculiar developmental needs. He also disclosed that ministries, departments and agencies were recruiting Nigerians.

The SGF defended the administration’s economic reforms, describing them as difficult but necessary measures aimed at correcting long-standing structural weaknesses, restoring macroeconomic stability, rebuilding investor confidence and placing the economy on a sustainable path.

He said there is currently agrowing evidence that the reforms were yielding results, with the foreign exchange market becoming more stable, inflationary pressures moderating, macroeconomic fundamentals strengthening and investor confidence returning.

According to Akume, official data showed continued real economic growth, moderation in headline inflation and declining food-price pressures, arguing that these developments underscored the need to sustain reforms while intensifying targeted interventions to reduce living costs and expand economic opportunities.

He listed the Social Investment Programmes, Credit Corps, NELFUND, support for business start-ups and Conditional Cash Transfers as evidence of government efforts to ensure that the benefits of reforms reached households through improved welfare, employment, education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic opportunities.

He also commended the Central Bank of Nigeria for discharging its statutory responsibility for monetary and price stability with professionalism and institutional independence, assuring that monetary credibility, financial-system stability and public confidence would remain above partisan politics.

According to him, the next phase of the administration’s reforms would focus on ensuring that economic stability translated into lower inflation, more affordable food, quality jobs, stronger public services, improved infrastructure and expanded opportunities for Nigerians.

Addressing the security issue, Akume admitted that the true measure of government policy remained the safety experienced by citizens in their homes, farms, schools, markets, places of worship and on highways, stressing that every life lost to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes was regrettable, and that the government was expanding and fine-tuning the country’s security architecture with encouraging results.

He cited the creation of four new Army Divisions headquartered in Benue, Kwara, Taraba and Edo States as a landmark initiative to improve operational effectiveness.

Akume added that the establishment of the office of Homeland Security further demonstrated the administration’s commitment to strengthening domestic security.

On democracy, the SGF reaffirmed the government’s commitment to constitutional democracy, the rule of law and equal rights for all citizens irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation, adding that Nigeria’s democratic system guarantees genuine political competition, lawful opposition, multi-party democracy, credible elections and citizens’ rights to participate freely in the democratic process.

Akume pointed to the registration of 21 political parties by INEC as evidence of political pluralism, insisting that the Federal Government neither sought nor supported a one-party state.

He assured that President Tinubu’s administration will continue to respect the legal autonomy of INEC and provide all resources lawfully appropriated for the commission’s responsibilities, while maintaining that security agencies had conducted themselves professionally and impartially during elections under the scrutiny of international observers.

The SGF said that FG will continue to welcome sincere advice from respected national institutions, insisting that no responsible government should ignore the concerns of its people.

While the government and the Catholic Church might not always share identical views on every policy, he said both remained united by the common aspiration of ensuring that every Nigerian lived in peace, dignity and hope.

“Our diversity is our source of strength. In spite of many, we are one people”, Akume said, expressing confidence that continued collaboration between government and the Church will help build a stronger, more resilient country capable of delivering greater opportunities and prosperity for future generations.