Catholic Bishops in the country have praised eight state governments that have continued to support the funding of mission schools.

In his welcome address at the just concluded First plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) for 2014, held in Abuja, the President of the Conference, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama listed such states as: Benue, Anambra, Delta and Lagos.  The rest are Ekiti, Plateau, Ondo and Ebonyi.

According to the CBCN President, who is also the Archbishop of Jos, these states have demonstrated commitment by continuing to pay salaries of teachers in mission schools, give grants to private schools for infrastructural developments and rebuild mission schools.

He urged other governments in the country to return seized mission schools and provide responsible funding to enable them educate Nigerian children as a matter of justice rather than favour.

The Most Rev. Kaigama stressed that school administration is a shared responsibility that should be accompanied by enough financial support from budgetary allocations.

He commended individuals and groups who genuinely provide education but not for profit.

The CBCN President’s welcome address also advised that the proposed National Conference should not be mainly concerned about debating or agitating for sectional or regional interests, exclusive rights to resources or division of the country.  The conference should truly be concerned about fundamental issues such as accountability and selfless service.

He called on those foreign individuals and groups who want Nigeria to legalize same-sex union to first of all, help us deal with the menacing activities of terrorists.

In the homily he delivered at the opening Mass, titled: The Devil is a Liar”, the Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan listed the evils in Nigeria such as socio-political confusion, corruption, widening economic inequality, and insecurity… but emphasized that despite such evils, the nation is still in the hands of God.  The devil and his agents, he said, will be vanquished.

Addressing the conference, which theme was: “Church and State Partnership in providing Quality Education for Nigerian People,” President Goodluck Jonathan promised to raise the standard of education in Nigeria.  He urged state governments to partner with religious bodies to improve education.  Mr. President, who said that education is directly linked to national capacity, power, development and progress, added that the commitment of his administration is to continue to raise standards to ensure quality.

Speaking also, the Senate President, David Mark, called for the return of schools taken over from churches by government.  “We must go back to the way our schools were run.  Education must not be politicized, he warned.  He also praised President Jonathan for not allowing pressures to prevent him from signing the Anti Same-sex Bill into law.

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