Nigerian bishops denounce corruption, high government salaries, pensions

September 30, 2015

Following a recent nine-day meeting, the bishops of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, issued a statement welcoming recent papal documents, reaffirming Catholic teaching on homosexual acts and same-sex marriage, and calling for Eucharistic adoration and the recitation of the Rosary.

The bishops also denounced corruption and high government salaries:

There is a serious outcry today against the high cost of governance in Nigeria. There are instances of enormous sums of money paid as allowances to public office holders (in addition to their already high basic salaries) and of legislators passing bills in view of future pension benefits for themselves and members of the executive arm of government. It is regrettable that this is happening in a nation where a large percentage of the population is living in dehumanizing poverty, where so many workers are not paid the recommended basic salary, and where massive decay of infrastructure has put much stress on the citizens and their lives in great danger. This situation is unjustifiable. It also represents a gross injustice against the poor.

The nation of 173.6 million is 50% Muslim, 24% Protestant, and 16% Catholic, with 10% of the population retaining indigenous beliefs.

 

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Further information:

• Catholic Bishops Conference Of Nigeria, Communique: A Call To True Conversion Of Heart (CBCN)
• Nigerian bishops reiterate opposition to same-sex marriage (CWN, 9/29)