Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
President Bola Tinubu has declared that his administration is stabilising Nigeria and delivering the economy from bankruptcy, as he received the leadership of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Addressing a 19-member delegation led by CBCN President Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, Archbishop of Kaduna, the President outlined his administration's progress in economic recovery, security restructuring, and education, while also defending the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The President, who is seeking a second term in office, told the bishops that the country had been placed on a sound footing since he assumed office in May 2023. "I can tell you categorically with sincerity that the country has been placed on a sound footing. The economy has recovered. The alarm for bankruptcy and dark tunnel of uncertainty that we had when I came in has been changed," Tinubu said. He acknowledged the economic hardship Nigerians have endured under his watch but insisted that stability was taking hold and prosperity was now visible on the horizon. "I always say, because of my background and profession, that I inherited the assets and liabilities of my predecessor. I have been running with it. This government has stabilised, and there is prosperity on the horizon. Life is improving," he stated, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
On security, the President assured the bishops that the restructuring of security operations and institutions will deliver victory over terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings across the country. He stated that security challenges are being confronted through enhanced intelligence gathering, restructuring and repositioning of security institutions, improved logistical support, and prioritisation of frontline personnel welfare. "We don't have another country but here – this Nigeria. And I will refer to the national anthem that in our complexity and diversity, we shall thrive, live, rejoice and be good to all, and humanity," Tinubu said. He revealed that he had approved the expansion of the armed forces, with the procurement of more equipment and the construction of new barracks. "We will defeat terrorism. It should be part of your sermons. I won't deviate from our national anthem," the President added.
On education, Tinubu highlighted the absence of prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as a measurable improvement in the lives of Nigerian families. "None of your children in university today, and I would say they are all your children because you are Reverend Fathers, can say a four-year course is not four years. ASUU is not on strike. They are not bringing agony to your homes. Is that not an answer to our prayers? To me, that's an answer," he said. The President's remark follows ASUU's history of prolonged industrial actions that have repeatedly crippled Nigeria's public university system. Between 1999 and 2022, ASUU called strikes totalling more than five years of lost academic time, with the most recent being a nine-month shutdown in 2022. Tinubu argued that no prolonged ASUU strike has been recorded since he assumed office, a period that also coincides with the administration's launch of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he cited as an intervention that directly improves the livelihoods of families and citizens.
The President also addressed the sensitive issue of mission schools, a long-running point of contention between the Catholic Church and several state governments. Tinubu noted that he had returned mission schools to the Church during his tenure as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, pointing to Cardinal Anthony Okogie as a living witness. However, he argued that the power to act lay with state governors, not the Federal Government, and urged the bishops to engage the states. "The schools are in the states. Preach to them, the governors of your states. They do the job. There is no need for a constitutional amendment for that. That is part of democracy. Choice," he said.
On the electoral process, the President defended INEC against accusations of bias, dismissing concerns raised by political opponents as unfounded. "INEC is neutral. They have never intimidated anyone. If political opponents are crying wolf, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows and uncertainty in the company they keep, not me," Tinubu said. He warned that he would not yield ground without a fight in the 2027 elections, stating: "Those who would take it from me will try. They will try. All is fair in politics, and there is equal opportunity. I won't offer them a red carpet. I won't offer them the leash to tie me at home. No, we will wrestle each other to the finishing point. That's the truth. That is fair in politics."
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria, founded in 1956, is one of the most influential religious bodies in the country, with significant reach in education, healthcare, and social services. Archbishop Ndagoso, who led the delegation, raised concerns about security, access to quality tertiary education, sustaining democratic gains, the need for credible elections, and persistent poverty. He also called for the return of mission schools nationwide and urged fair treatment of all worshippers. The meeting, which lasted barely an hour, was seen as a strategic engagement by the President to secure the support of religious leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
As the country prepares for the general elections, Tinubu's framing of the end to ASUU strikes as an answer to prayers serves both a political and a developmental purpose. It allows the administration to claim a concrete achievement in a sector that has long been a source of national embarrassment, while also signalling to voters that the government is delivering on its promises. For the millions of Nigerian students and their families who have endured the trauma of repeated academic disruptions, the current period of stability is undoubtedly a welcome relief. However, critics have pointed out that while no full-scale, prolonged strikes have occurred under Tinubu, ASUU has issued several ultimatums and embarked on brief warning actions over disputes relating to funding and allowances. The underlying tensions that have historically fuelled ASUU strikes remain largely unaddressed, and whether this period of calm will prove to be a lasting transformation or merely a pause in a recurring cycle of crisis will depend on whether the government can sustain dialogue and address the structural issues that have driven the union to the picket lines for decades.
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