Ibadan, Nigeria, Jan 11, 2012 / 01:22 am
Catholic bishops in Nigeria have criticized President Goodluck Jonathan's decision to stop oil subsidies, a choice that has doubled gas and food costs in the already unstable nation.
“As things stand, we consider it immoral to remove the petroleum subsidy while we run a government of such dysfunctional dimension and cost,” the bishops of the Ibadan province declared after the government stopped public support for oil as of Jan. 1.
They said it was “immoral to impose removal of the petroleum subsidy on economically weakened Nigerians while political office holders continue to live in embarrassing opulence.”
Over 10,000 people protested in the city of Lagos on Jan. 9, according to the Associated Press. Labor unions called a strike in response to President Jonathan's move, which he says will save the country $8 billion a year and allow for development of infrastructure and other public needs.