Minimise Financial Hardship, Pass 2017 Budget, CAN Urges NASS
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Legislative arm of government to speedily pass the 2017 budget, in order to minimize the financial hardship faced by Nigerians.
The CAN president, Rev. Samson Olasupo, gave the advice through a communique issued on Tuesday, May 2, by his special assistant on media, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, at the just concluded 104th annual session of the Nigeria Baptist Convention held in Abuja.
CAN, in the statement, further pleaded with the executive and the National Assembly to end all rivalries and see themselves as partners in progress.
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“We observe with dismay the delay in the passage of 2017 budget and the attendant financial and untold hardship which this has brought to Nigerians. This delay may not be unconnected with the friction between the executive and legislative arms of government.
“We therefore urge the two arms of government to see themselves as partners in progress and end all rivalries. The National Assembly is therefore called upon to speedily pass the budget to minimise the present financial hardship in the country.
“We observe and commend the federal government’s efforts on the release of Parish Club loan refund to the state government. The money is to enable the state governments to pay their staff salaries and provide other social amenities and infrastructures.
“However, we observe that some state governments did not use the money for the specific purposes for which they are meant. There is information that the monies are being diverted and or misappropriated. We urge the federal government to compel the state governments to use the money for the purposes for which they are released,” CAN stated.
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On Buhari’s health, the Christian body wondered why the health status of the president would be shrouded in secrecy, especially with the lack of openness in telling Nigerians that he went for medical attention.
“We observe with dismay the political under current that surrounds the health of our dear President especially the lack of openness in telling Nigerians that he went for medical attention.
“We advise the president not to hesitate in going for further treatment if that would help in quickly restoring him back to sound health so as to continue performing his duties to the nation,” it said.
