We Know Nigerians Are Suffering, FG Working To Make Reforms Reflect In Household Welfare – Akume

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume, has acknowledged the economic hardship Nigerians are facing as a result of the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms, assuring citizens that their sacrifices will not be in vain.

Akume said the Federal Government is aware of the difficulties and that its next priority is to ensure economic recovery translates into tangible improvements in household welfare.

He spoke on Wednesday at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, while representing President Bola Tinubu at the 12th Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria.

According to him, while recent World Bank assessments point to improving macroeconomic stability, the government is now focused on making reforms reflect in the daily lives of Nigerians.

“This government is focusing on recovery of household incomes from poverty and will never relent until when reform succeeds and translates to affordable food, jobs, better infrastructure, health services and dignity for the ordinary citizen,” Akume said.

He said this was at the heart of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which is focused on reducing hardship, creating opportunities, simplifying the fiscal regime and providing relief for vulnerable Nigerians and businesses.

The SGF commended Nigerians for their resilience and patriotism, assuring them that government was also expanding interventions in education, healthcare, social protection and community resilience, and would continue to listen, correct areas requiring adjustment, protect vulnerable groups and strengthen accountability.

On security and the 2027 general elections, Akume urged Christian leaders to make peacebuilding a central part of Nigeria’s national security strategy, warning against the use of religious platforms to inflame political tensions.

He said the country’s security challenges cannot be tackled by the military, police and intelligence agencies alone, stressing that “national security also begins with trust, social cohesion, early warning and responsible speech.”

“The Church must therefore see peacebuilding as part of national security,” he said.

Akume charged the bishops to use their pulpits to promote peaceful participation and protect Nigeria’s democratic process, noting that religious leaders should not attempt to determine electoral winners but should ensure political contests do not threaten the survival of the country.

“Elections will come and go, but Nigeria must remain,” he said.

He urged the bishops to speak out against vote-buying, hate speech and the weaponisation of ethnicity and religion, warning that political competition must not degenerate into conflict.

“I urge you to please refrain from turning the pulpit into an instrument of incitement instead of the sanctuary of conscience,” he said, adding that an election “must never become a war for survival.”

On security, Akume disclosed that the government had recorded encouraging intelligence-led breakthroughs, including the rescue in August of 308 abducted citizens from Kwara and Niger States.

He, however, acknowledged that significant security challenges remain, with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts and other forms of criminal violence continuing to affect families and communities.

He said tackling the challenges requires greater cooperation between government institutions, communities and religious organisations, describing religious leaders as influential social mobilisers.

Beyond security and elections, Akume called on the Synod to explore deeper collaboration with government in youth empowerment, education, civic responsibility, humanitarian intervention and peacebuilding.

“Government needs the moral reach of the Church and the Church needs an enabling civic environment to thrive. Above all, Nigeria needs both, to work perfectly, for the common good,” he said.

He reaffirmed the administration’s appreciation for the prayers and humanitarian contributions of the Church, saying President Tinubu valued its role in promoting peace, national cohesion and moral formation, and subsequently declared the 12th Synod open.