The Northern Reform Organisation has thrown its weight behind the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria’s call for urgent national reflection and decisive action over the worsening economic hardship, insecurity and declining confidence in government.
The Punch reported that the organisation’s position was contained in a statement signed by its Chairman, Gidado Mukhtar, and made available to journalists in Kano on Monday.
The NRO commended the Catholic Bishops for openly drawing attention to the challenges confronting the country, describing their intervention as courageous and patriotic.
Mukhtar said the Bishops had demonstrated moral courage by addressing the deteriorating conditions across various sectors, particularly the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
He said their decision to speak publicly, rather than restricting their concerns to private engagements with government officials, reflected “exemplary moral leadership and a profound sense of national responsibility.”
The NRO chairman maintained that the Bishops’ intervention should not be viewed through partisan or sectional lenses, stressing that their concerns were driven by a genuine interest in the welfare of Nigerians, national unity and the country’s long-term stability.
“We fully associate ourselves with the concerns expressed by the Catholic Bishops and endorse their call for urgent national introspection and corrective action,” Mukhtar said.
He listed widespread economic hardship, increasing insecurity, governance deficiencies and declining public confidence in state institutions among the pressing issues requiring immediate government attention.
The organisation further argued that the concerns raised by the Bishops represented the daily realities of millions of Nigerians rather than abstract political arguments.
It urged the government not to dismiss the concerns or interpret them solely from a political perspective, while calling on civil society organisations, professional groups, patriotic citizens and other stakeholders to support the intervention and contribute to finding solutions.
“The task of rescuing Nigeria from its present challenges is a collective responsibility that demands honesty, courage and constructive engagement,” the NRO chairman remarked.
Mukhtar also urged the Federal Government to take a deeper look at the issues raised by the Bishops and recognise the extent of the difficulties facing Nigerians beyond the reassuring narratives often presented through official channels.
According to the organisation, effective leadership requires governments to confront uncomfortable realities and respond to them with sincerity, transparency, urgency and decisive policies.
“Nigeria stands at a critical moment in its history, and the concerns expressed by the Catholic Bishops should not be viewed as criticism for its own sake,” Mukhtar said, describing their intervention as a timely and patriotic contribution to the national conversation.
The NRO expressed hope that the Bishops’ position would trigger meaningful reforms aimed at rebuilding public trust, strengthening democratic governance, promoting equity and justice, and setting Nigeria on a path towards recovery, national renewal and shared prosperity.
