Sokoto votes N6.7bn for feeding, Jigawa slashes working hours

The Sokoto State government has earmarked N6.7bn for the feeding of poor and underprivileged persons in the state during the 30-day Ramadan fast.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu disclosed this during the flag-off of the distribution of grains to 18,400 orphans and the destitute across the state at the state Government House on Monday.

He noted that the underprivileged persons would be fed at the 605 Ramadan feeding centres created by the state.

Giving the breakdown of the expenditure, the governor said  N1.2bn was allocated to 244 wards feeding centres while N797.9m was allocated to the existing 335 feeding centres across the state.

“Additionally, N288m would be spent on 26 special feeding centres for people with disabilities.

“Similarly, each of the 18,400 orphans and the destitute will receive bags of rice and millet with N5,000.”

The Sultan of Sokoko, Alhaji Sa’ad Muhammad, thanked the governor for sustaining the Ramadan feeding programme, which was initiated by former governor Aliyu Wamakko.

“It is important for us to be seen doing what is right as leaders. We pray for you because to whom much is given much is expected.

“I assure you, we are hundred per cent in support of your nine-point agenda aimed at transforming the state and helping humanity,” the Sultan said.

He called on the wealthy people to show compassion to the needy.

In a related development, the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, approved the reduction of working hours for workers in the state by two hours in view of the Ramadan fast.

The decision was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the state Head of the Service, Alhaji Muhammad Dagaceri.

Dagaceri said workers were expected to report to work at 9 am and close at 3 pm instead of 5 pm from Monday to Thursday.

“Furthermore, workers would report to work on Fridays by 9 am and close by 1 pm as usual,” he said.

He said the initiative was to enable workers to prepare for the break of fast and have time to observe spiritual activities in the holy month of Ramadan.

He expressed hope that the workers would use the Ramadan fast to pray for God’s guidance and blessings.

“It is also our hope that civil servants will use the fast period to pray for the peace and economic prosperity of the state and Nigeria at large,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Emir of Fika, Yobe State, Alhaji Muhammad Idrissa, has called for collective efforts to assist the underprivileged during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Emir, who is also the Chairman, Yobe  Council of Chiefs, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Potiskum.

He urged marketers who hoard and inflate the prices of goods in the state, to have the fear of God and refrain from the practice.

He urged well-meaning individuals and philanthropists to support the underprivileged in communities,  particularly during Ramadan to alleviate their hardship.

The traditional ruler commended the federal and state governments for the distribution of palliatives to Nigerians to ease the economic hardship in the land.

He called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and other security agencies to intensify efforts to curb drug use and addiction within the state.