Gerald Mamman Musa, bishop of the Katsina Catholic Diocese, has appealed to the federal government to offer targeted assistance to farmers and rural workers while strengthening micro, small, and medium enterprises with grants and soft loans, urging leaders to uphold the spirit of Christmas.
The bishop delivered the message during a press conference at the Katsina Catholic Church on Wednesday, December 24. He warned the government against imposing taxes that lack compassion and advised authorities to first recover lost revenues from illegal mining, oil theft, reckless borrowing, and waste, while curbing government excesses before burdening the poor.
“Public funds are often quietly diverted into political machinery while communities struggle for food, security, and jobs. Leaders must remember that God came among the poor, not the powerful. A government that ignores the weak contradicts the essence of Christmas,” he said.
He highlighted that the holiday reminds Nigerians to care for the most vulnerable—the farmers, market women, artisans, self-employed citizens, and small business owners who sustain the economy.
“These groups continue to endure insecurity, inflation, and the fallout from the removal of fuel subsidies,” Musa added.
He urged the government to provide targeted support for rural workers, strengthen small businesses with grants and soft loans, avoid taxes that are insensitive, recover lost revenue, and cut excesses before tightening belts for the poor. “Taxation must not become a punishment for being poor,” he emphasized.
Shifting focus to political leadership, the bishop noted that Christmas also calls for governance rooted in service rather than manipulation. He cautioned against divisive politics and premature campaigning ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Leadership is not a chessboard to be manipulated but a sacred trust to be honoured. It is troubling that some individuals have turned themselves into instruments of darkness,” he said.
Musa further lamented that insecurity and violent crimes have become lucrative for a few, causing suffering for many Nigerians.
“Kidnapping, banditry, assassination, and organised violence now enrich a few at the expense of many. Let it be known: no one profits from blood without facing judgment. Scripture declares: ‘There is no peace for the wicked’ (Isaiah 48:22),” he warned.