By Several days before Eld el-Fitr, the Muslim faithful in Zamfara State expressed concern that the current economic difficulties will prohibit them from having a joyous Sallah.
Muslims highlighted rising food prices as an example, claiming that divine intervention is required to provide all they require for this year’s Sallah celebration.
“I have not bought any cloth for my children for the Sallah festival owing to a lack of money,” said Haliru Ibrahim. I am a state employee who has not received my wage since February of this year.
“There is also no indication that workers’ pay and allowances would be paid prior to the religious observance.” We are in a major economic crisis.”
Another public servant, Umaru Mohammed, expressed concern that Zamfara is a Muslim community and that the state government should not treat civil servants and Muslim faithful with a wave of the hand, especially during Ramadan and Sallah celebrations.
“It has been a custom in this State that the government always gives Ramadan charity packages to Muslims, but this year, the State government refused to follow the tradition, giving no single grain or anything to the people.”
“The failure to provide Ramadan aid packages could be linked to Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle’s loss in the governorship race.” “But, this does not paint him as a good politician,” he added.
According to a market survey conducted by DAILY POST, the costs of vital commodities have continued to rise on a daily basis as the holy holiday approaches.
According to Musa Abubakar, a tomato seller, the spike in food costs was caused by banditry, fuel scarcity, and other negative causes, pointing out that many villagers, primarily farmers, have been evicted from their settlements, resulting in food scarcity.
“Aside from purchasing expensive commodities, we also pay outrageous costs to transport our goods to Gusau, all of which contribute to the rise in food prices.”
“If we continue to sell at normal pricing, we will have to close our enterprises, and our families would suffer.” “We, the tomato sellers, buy other goods from the vendors at ever-increasing prices,” he explained.
Abubakar stated that vendors of these commodities sell as they buy from farmers, emphasizing that their purpose was not to annoy Muslims during the Ramadan and Sallah celebrations.
This medium also learned that a kilo of meat that was selling for N2,200 before Ramadan is now selling for between N3,100 and N3,200.
Butcher Ahmed Dangulbi told DAILY POST that domestic animals are even rare, adding that they sometimes have to bribe their way in and raise meat prices.
Comrade Sani Haliru, State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, revealed that employees and pensioners in the state have not been paid their salaries and allowances since February of this year.
He promised workers that their pay and allowances would be paid before the Eld Fitr celebration, saying that the Nigeria Labour Congress is on top of the situation and urging state civil servants to follow the law.
