The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have called on the Federal Government to pause the full enforcement of new tax laws until vulnerable Nigerians are adequately informed and prepared for the changes.
The bishops made the appeal during their first meeting of 2026, held at the Jubilee Conference Centre (JCC), Ibadan, from January 19–20. The province comprises the dioceses of Ibadan Archdiocese, Ilorin, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, and Osogbo.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the bishops noted that the ongoing tax reforms have generated widespread controversy despite government efforts to explain their benefits.
They accused “agents of misinformation” of discrediting the policy and urged authorities to give reforms a “human face” by easing anxieties among the poor and vulnerable before applying the full weight of the law.
“Fairness, transparency and accountability must govern the conduct of the government and the tax authorities in this entire process,” the communiqué stated.
Call for Stronger Security Collaboration
The bishops also weighed in on insecurity, commending the Federal Government’s renewed zeal in tackling violence and criminality. They urged federal, state, and local governments to work in agreement to criminalise and prosecute banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and other crimes.
“A few developments in recent times have shown that when governments demonstrate the political will to act, even insecurity can be curtailed,” they said, stressing the need for courageous policies, adequate funding, and equipping of security agencies.
They called on Nigerians to unite in restoring peace and safety, insisting that “all life is sacred and nobody has the right to take someone else’s life or destroy property without serious consequences.”
Commendation on Education Reforms
The bishops praised the recent agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which they described as a landmark resolution after 16 years of failed negotiations.
They urged that the benefits of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) be extended to private and mission universities, noting that all institutions contribute to training future leaders.
The bishops also welcomed presidential grants and loans for Nigerian youths, the new National Policy on Almajiri Education, and other programmes aimed at empowering young people.
“Convinced that education is the bedrock of the development of any nation, we enjoin state and local governments nationwide to apply themselves manifestly to the improvement of educational facilities and staff welfare,” they said, adding that programmes must be periodically evaluated to eliminate bottlenecks.
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