Cash Crunch Affecting Ramadan, Islamic Body Tells FG

The Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah in Bauchi State, on Friday, appealed to the Federal Government to make naira notes available during the Ramadan.

The Chairman, Tafsir Committee Kasuwan Shanu JIBWS mosque, Alhaji Hassan Gwani, made the appeal during the opening of this year’s annual Ramadan tafsir.

He said, “Ramadan is here again and the currency meant for daily purchases is not available thereby making the situation difficult for people to buy what they need.

“If the FG wants the policy to be received with open arms and successful, the new naira notes should be made available for people to spend.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council has felicitated the Muslim faithful as they commenced the month-long Ramadan fast.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, conveyed the congratulatory message on behalf of FEC on Friday, in a statement issued by the Director of Information, Office of the SGF, Mr Willie Bassey.

In Jigawa State, the government has reduced the official working hours in the state by two hours during the period of Ramadan.

The state Head of the Civil Service, Hussaini Kila, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists by his Public Relations Officer, Ismail Dutse.

According to the statement, civil servants in the state would report to the office at 9 am and close by 3pm instead of 5pm between Monday and Thursday.

“Furthermore, workers would report to work on Fridays by 9 am and close by 1 pm as usual. It is also hoped that civil servants would use the fasting period to pray for the peace and economic prosperity of the state and Nigeria at large,” the statement said.

On his part, former vice-president Atiku Abubakar called on Muslims to use the holy month to seek spiritual guidance and sacrifice to the cause of peace.

Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded elections, gave the advice in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

He said, “It is quite clear that the essential principles of this holy month are what we need to heal our wounds, both as individuals and as a country.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, on Friday urged Muslims to use the period of the fast to wage relentless spiritual war against the rising ethnic tensions.

Bamidele said, “Most importantly, our Muslim brothers should look beyond seeing this period for personal spiritual fortification. They should pray against insecurity, corruption, ethnic tension, and nepotism that is afflicting the nation and quaking our bond of unity and collective destiny.”