FROM MIKE OSUNDE (BENIN)

It came at the end of what the clerics called prayerful reflection on and discussion of the church and the polity.

The bishops also urged the government to put the refineries back to work to stop the importation of refined crude.

The bishops said it was imperative that the government did so, "so that our dependence on imported products may be reduced to the minimum."

A statement on the 'reflections and discussions', which formed part of the second plenary session of the CBCN for this year, read at a concluding mass on Thursday night, said:

"Like most Nigerians, we are worried at the incessant increases in the prices of petrol and other petroleum products."

According to the bishops, who gathered in Benin, every such increase causes untold hardships to the vast majority of the people whom the bishops said lived at or below the poverty line.

It was, therefore, imperative, they said, that the government addressed the problem once and for all, by, among other things, put all the refineries back to work.

They added: "It is unacceptable that Nigeria, the sixth highest producer of crude oil in the world, cannot refine enough of its oil for the use of its citizens."

The statement, signed by the Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev. Felix Alaba Job, who deputised for the CBCN President, Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, was apparently a reflection on Onaiyekan's presidential address to the plenary session last Tuesday.

The statement titled, 'Towards Mature Nationhood' touched on developments in the country and the preparation for the 2007 elections.

It also reflected on the economic hardship Nigerians faced, the coming census, and matters of security as well as the sexuality education, which curriculum the Bishops demanded must be withdraw by the government.

"We are concerned of the recent move by the Federal Government of Nigeria to introduce at the junior and senior secondary school levels, a curriculum for sex education, which is harmful to the ethical and moral development of the youth."

According to the bishops, the curriculum neither took into consideration the level of human development and maturity of the young nor the African culture and tradition.

It argued that if sexuality education must be introduced, it could not be dissociated from moral principles, and must treat sex within the context of genuine human love, the family and respect for life.

The bishops said they preferred that parents should be the first teachers of their children while the schools should complemented this effort.

The bishops called on Catholic parents, teachers, youth's organisations and other persons of goodwill to reject the programme, especially such sex education that divorces sexuality education from the dictates of conscience and moral order.

Re-echoing Onaiyekan's warning to Obasanjo, over his publicised third term bid, the bishops advised the president to use the reminder of his tenure to render long-lasting service to the nation by leaving behind a more decent political structure that would curb "the tragic illegalities and blatant criminality of the past, as well as ensure free and fair elections."

They also advised Nigerians to stand up against "god-fatherism" and other dubious devices that disenfranchise the electorate, while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act and be seen as truly independent.

On the census, the bishops restated their call for the inclusion of ethnic and religious affiliation in the information to be gathered during the exercise, because, according to them, they formed the fundamental items of personal information that was constantly demanded and invoked at all kinds of government affairs and procedures.

"We consider this omission grave and urge that a second look be taken at the matter before it is too late."

On security, the bishops said they were disturbed at the renewed upsurge in violent crimes and armed robbery in the country.

Noting that churches and places of worship had become targets of robbers, the bishops were apprehensive that security agencies seemed powerless to deal effectively with the menace.

They, therefore, called on the government to make "proper provision" for the security of citizens by adequately equipping and remunerating members of the Police Force and other security agencies to motivate them to properly discharge their duties.