Bwala hosts Charismatic Bishops, declares Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Communication, Daniel Bwala, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to inclusive governance, national development, and security across Nigeria.
Bwala gave the assurance during a meeting on Friday with a delegation from the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House, Abuja.
Led by CBCN Secretary-General, Bishop Chivir Chianson, the delegation presented a comprehensive set of concerns, with a major emphasis on the escalating security crisis in Benue and Plateau states.
The Bishops also used the occasion to formally announce the 2025 Synod of the Conference, which is expected to attract over 600 bishops from Nigeria and 36 other countries. The Synod will focus on themes of leadership, faith, and nation-building.
Responding to the concerns raised by the clerics, Bwala said: “This government is committed to the security and welfare of all Nigerians, as enshrined in the Constitution”, assuring them that Tinubu remains focused on equitable and unbiased governance.
He also emphasized that President Tinubu does not view appointments through religious or ethnic lenses. “He is guided by fairness and a commitment to inspire hope among all Nigerians,” he noted.
Addressing the security situation, Bwala stressed the President’s resolve to confront all forms of criminality—banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, and domestic violence—without prejudice. “The directive is clear: all crimes must be met with decisive action. There is no tolerance for evil,” he said.
He also highlighted the federal government’s ongoing collaboration with state governors, particularly in violence-prone states such as Benue, Plateau, and Zamfara, to address root causes of insecurity.
On economic policy, Bwala defended the removal of fuel subsidies, describing it as a move that has allowed for increased allocations to states for salaries and infrastructure. He cited initiatives like the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and increased NYSC stipends as signs of progress.
The presidential aide accepted an invitation to speak at the forthcoming Synod and pledged to deliver the bishops’ letter to the President.
Earlier, Bishop Chianson conveyed the CBCN’s support for President Tinubu, lauding his inclusive appointments and bold policy decisions. He particularly lauded the removal of the fuel subsidy, describing it as a necessary and courageous act.
“When is the right time to remove a cancer?” he asked rhetorically, backing the President’s economic reform agenda.
He decried the continued killings, displacement of communities, and destruction of churches in Benue and Plateau States as well as other parts of the North, saying that “our pastors are being murdered, churches burned, and people forced to flee. This is not just politics—this is war,” he said.
While the bishops stopped short of calling for emergency rule, they pleaded for urgent and robust federal intervention. “If people are being killed weekly and security only responds after the fact, we are already living in a state of emergency,” Chianson warned.
