CFM: A prayerful appeal for economic relief, security, responsible governance in Enugu State

By Egbo Paul, Ph.D.

At a time when economic hardship is stretching families to their limits and insecurity continues to threaten the peace, livelihood and future of ordinary citizens, the Capable Family Movement (CFM) has raised its voice, not in condemnation, but in prayerful concern, constructive engagement and a passionate appeal for responsive and compassionate governance.

The Movement believes that the cries coming from homes, markets, streets and communities across Nigeria can no longer be ignored. Behind economic statistics are real people: parents struggling to feed their children, traders battling declining purchasing power, young people searching for opportunities, artisans struggling to survive, and families whose incomes are increasingly unable to meet the rising cost of basic necessities.

The situation calls for compassion, courage, wisdom and urgent action.

When the Burden Becomes Too Heavy
The present economic reality has created an environment in which many families are living from one day to another.

The cost of food, transportation, accommodation, education, healthcare and other necessities continues to place enormous pressure on household incomes.
For many citizens, the challenge is no longer simply how to improve their standard of living.

It is how to survive.

The Capable Family Movement is therefore concerned about the cumulative effect of taxes, levies, charges and other financial demands imposed on citizens in different spaces, including markets, streets, businesses and households.

We recognise the legitimate responsibility of the government to generate revenue for public services and development. However, taxation must be carefully structured so that it does not weaken the very citizens and families whose productivity sustains the economy.

Government needs revenue, but the economy also needs citizens with sufficient purchasing power to remain productive.

When traders are excessively burdened, the cost is eventually transferred to consumers.

When small businesses are suffocated by multiple levies, employment opportunities disappear. When families are pushed beyond their financial capacity, social problems inevitably increase.

For this reason, the Capable Family Movement respectfully calls for a comprehensive review of policies, taxes and levies that may be placing excessive pressure on ordinary citizens.

The Cry of the People: An Exodus Moment
The Movement draws inspiration from the biblical account of the Israelites in Egypt, particularly Exodus chapters 2 and 3.

The Israelites lived under oppression until their suffering became unbearable. Scripture records that they groaned under their bondage and cried out to God. God heard their cry.

God saw their suffering. God remembered His covenant. And God responded.

This powerful account reminds us that when the suffering of a people becomes unbearable, those entrusted with leadership must listen. Moses eventually stood before Pharaoh with the historic declaration: “Let my people go.”

Today, the Capable Family Movement is not standing before the government as an adversary, nor is it issuing a political ultimatum.

Rather, we make a humble, patriotic and prayerful appeal: Our dear Governor, please let our people breathe.

Let our traders breathe.
Let our artisans breathe.
Let our families breathe.
Let our young people breathe.
Let small businesses breathe.
Let the ordinary citizen breathe.

This is not a call for disorder. It is a call for relief, justice, wisdom, responsible governance and balanced economic policies.

A special appeal to the Government of Enugu State

The Capable Family Movement particularly appeals to the Government of Enugu State to consider a comprehensive review of the taxation and levy structures affecting ordinary citizens.

The question should not simply be: “How much revenue can the government collect?”

It should also be: “How much can the people reasonably bear without being pushed further into poverty?” We respectfully urge the Enugu State Government to examine whether multiple levies collected across markets, streets, businesses and other areas can be consolidated, reduced, properly regulated or, where necessary, eliminated.

A simplified, transparent and accountable revenue system may ultimately produce better results than a system in which citizens encounter numerous financial demands from different channels.

Government should also consider mechanisms that protect vulnerable families while ensuring that those who are economically capable contribute fairly to the development of the state.

Security is also an economic issue

Economic prosperity cannot flourish where people are afraid.

The Capable Family Movement, therefore, appeals for renewed attention to security across Enugu State and Nigeria generally.

A trader cannot trade effectively when afraid of violence.
A farmer cannot farm productively when afraid of attacks.
A business cannot expand where insecurity threatens its employees, customers and investments.
A family cannot enjoy prosperity when it lives under constant fear.

Security is therefore not merely a law-enforcement matter; it is an economic necessity and a fundamental responsibility of government. We encourage stronger collaboration among security agencies, traditional institutions, religious organisations, community leaders and citizens in developing practical and sustainable community-based security strategies.

Government and the People Are Partners
The Capable Family Movement believes that government should not see citizens merely as sources of revenue.

Citizens are in development partners
The trader who pays legitimate taxes is a partner.

The artisan who trains an apprentice is a partner.
The civil servant who serves faithfully is a partner.
The farmer who feeds the community is a partner.
The entrepreneur who creates employment is a partner.
The young person building a legitimate business is a partner.
The family raising responsible children is a partner.

When the government creates an environment in which these people can prosper, the economic base naturally becomes stronger. Prosperous families create prosperous communities, and prosperous communities strengthen government.

This is not criticism: We pray for wisdom and ideas

The Movement’s intervention is not simply to complain about what is wrong. We are also committed to praying for those entrusted with leadership.

We pray for our Governor.
We pray for our lawmakers.
We pray for local government authorities.
We pray for security agencies.
We pray for civil servants.
We pray for community and traditional leaders.
We pray for our religious leaders and fathers of faith

We pray that God will grant them wisdom, insight, courage, compassion and progressive ideas that will benefit both government and the people.

Leadership is difficult, particularly during challenging economic times. We therefore acknowledge the complexity of governance and recognise that not every economic difficulty is created by one administration or can be solved overnight.

However, difficult circumstances make compassionate and responsive leadership even more important.

A call for practical relief

The Capable Family Movement respectfully encourages the government to consider practical measures that will reduce unnecessary burdens on citizens, including:
Reviewing and consolidating multiple taxes and levies imposed on small businesses and market traders.

Eliminating unnecessary duplication in revenue collection.

Establishing transparent and publicly accessible schedules of approved taxes and levies.
Strengthening enforcement against illegal or unauthorised collections.
Creating targeted relief mechanisms for vulnerable families and struggling small businesses.
Supporting local production, entrepreneurship and employment creation.
Expanding opportunities for young people through skills development and enterprise support.
Strengthening security around markets, communities, farms and business environments.
Maintaining regular consultation with traders, artisans, religious organisations, youth groups and other stakeholders.
Ensuring that government development projects translate into tangible improvements in the daily lives of citizens.

These suggestions are offered in the spirit of constructive engagement, not confrontation.

Let the people feel government

One of the greatest achievements of any administration is not merely the number of projects completed or policies announced, but the extent to which ordinary citizens can genuinely say: “Government has made life better for us.”
Development must eventually be felt at household level.
The mother should feel it when she goes to the market.
The father should feel it when he pays school fees.
The trader should feel it when opening the shop.
The farmer should feel it when going to the farm.

The young graduate should feel it when searching for employment.
The elderly should feel it when seeking healthcare.
The vulnerable should feel it when seeking protection.
This is the essence of people-centred governance.

A prayer, not a protest

The Capable Family Movement emphasises that its intervention is rooted in prayer, patriotism, family welfare and concern for the common good.

The Movement is not against the government.
We are for the people and for good government.

We are not against taxation.
We are against taxation and levies becoming so burdensome that they undermine the survival and productivity of families.
We are not against development.
We are for development that carries the people along.
We are not against authority.

We are for authority exercised with wisdom, justice, compassion and accountability.
We therefore call upon citizens to continue to act responsibly, obey legitimate laws, pay lawful taxes and support initiatives that promote peace and development.

At the same time, the government must recognise that citizens have a breaking point.
When the burden becomes too heavy, even hardworking people can lose hope.

“Let our people breathe”

The biblical Moses stood before Pharaoh and declared, “Let my people go.”
Today, the Capable Family Movement echoes that cry in a different context and with a different spirit: “Let our people breathe.”

Let the policies of the government create room for survival.

Let taxation be fair.
Let revenue collection be transparent.
Let markets become places of opportunity rather than excessive financial pressure.
Let businesses grow.
Let young people dream again.
Let families have hope.
Let communities enjoy security.
Let governance become a source of relief rather than an additional weight upon those already struggling.

And above all, let government and the people work together to build an Enugu State where economic progress is not merely announced but experienced by ordinary families.

A fnal word of hope

The Capable Family Movement believes that the present challenges, though serious, are not beyond solution.

Nigeria has enormous human resources, creativity, resilience and potential to overcome difficult seasons.

Enugu State has enormous potential.
What is required is leadership that listens, citizens who participate responsibly, policies that encourage productivity, security that protects lives and property, and an economy that gives ordinary people room to breathe.

We therefore pray that God will grant our leaders uncommon wisdom and that the Government of Enugu State will hear the voice of its people, review policies where necessary and embrace measures that reduce unnecessary burdens.

May the government have the courage to correct what needs correcting.

May the people have the patience and responsibility to support what is right.

And may Enugu State emerge from this difficult season stronger, safer, more prosperous and more compassionate.

This is the burden of the Capable Family Movement.
This is our prayer.
This is our humble appeal:
Government, please hear the cry of the people.

Let our people breathe.
“And the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried…” — Exodus 2:23

May God hear the cry of our people, grant wisdom to our leaders and bring relief, peace and prosperity to our land. Amen.

Dr. Paul, President, Capable Family Movement