As Catholics in Kogi State join their counterparts around the world to commence this year’s forty days fast, Reverend Father Tony Bancy said he was constrained to ask parishioners to fast because many of them have been on compulsory fasting for more than one year due to backlog of their unpaid salary.
According to him, “While I am supposed to encourage parishioners to fast during lent, some civil servants have been on compulsory fasting for over a year.”
He urged the Government of the day to look out for the welfare of her citizenry as he urged Christians to pray for her leaders at all levels.
Father Bancy who was speaking during the ash Wednesday mass at saint Francis of Assiss catholic Church Lokongoma Lokoja, the Kogi State capital admonished Catholics not to be discouraged but remain steadfast.
He urged them give alms, help the needy in the society, fast and pray for the growth and development of the nation.
Bancy also urged his parishioners to pray for wisdom upon the leaders.
While commending the government for the relative peace experienced in the State Fr Bancy frowned at the untold hardship faced by civil servants in the state due to the over one year screening and verification process of state workers.
He said, instead of building structures in the state, the government should empower people and provide enabling environment for civil servants noting that Kogi citizens deserve better.
Fr Bancy insists that the church will continue to pray for people in authority.
According to him, “Ash Wednesday is the first day of lent according to the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church.”
