Muslims around the world are on the threshold of this year’s Ramadan (Ramadan 1436 AH). Muslims fast for thirty or twenty nine days while dedicating themselves to other religious duties like supplications, public lectures and tafsir (exegesis of the Glorious Qur’an).
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) felicitates with Nigerian Muslims on this auspicious occasion.
We note with deep concern that thousands of workers in many states of the federation are being owed salaries ranging from five to seven months. We express strong solidarity with these poor workers. We feel their pain and frustration. We are in the abyss of despondency because we know that they are in a state of sadness.
We are constrained to blame the past regime of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for stinting states of funds whereas it wasted billions of the taxpayers’ money on buying votes and extravagant campaign projects. Such money could have saved the states from the mess in which they now find themselves.
As a result of Jonathan’s lackluster performance and financial recklessness, workers in many states have been turned into beggars. Hunger and starvation have been their closest companions as they have been compelled to start their own fasting everyday even long before the advent of Ramadan.
MURIC shares the pangs of hunger being felt by Nigerian workers at this particular period. It is the irony of faith that people who are already suffering from starvation are now being required by the dictate of creed to fast in the month of Ramadan.
We appeal to workers to exercise patience and to allow the new regime of Muhammadu Buhari to settle down. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Nigeria has enough resources to take care of all so long as those in power do not engage in waste and kleptomania.
Finally, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action on federal assistance to states, particularly those owing salary arrears. We appeal to Muslims throughout Nigeria to spend the Ramadan period praying for enduring peace, political stability and economic recovery in Nigeria.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)