Jigawa Council Increases Allowances Of Friday Mosque Clerics By 150 Per Cent

The Kirikasamma Local Government Council in Jigawa on Tuesday announced 150 per cent increase in monthly allowances of clerics presiding over Friday congregation prayers in mosques across the local government area. Chairman of the council,  Alhaji Salisu Garba-Kubayo, announced the increase from the previous N500 to N2000 while presenting relief materials to community leaders and clerics for distribution to 2018 flood victims in their respective areas. The materials, which were recently donated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, included 30 bags of assorted grains, textile fabrics, mats and plastic containers. Garba-Kubayo said the stipend was increased in recognition of the role of the clerics in educating the people, especially on the need to keep the peace in the area. He urged them to assist in sensitising the people to shun against violence before, during and after the general elections. The chairman also urged the stakeholders to fear God and ensure that the materials donated by NLC were strictly shared among victims of flood disasters. Responding on behalf of the clerics, Sheikh Muhammadu Lawan of Baturiya Jumu’at Mosque thanked the chairman for increasing their allowance and also commended NLC for the gesture. He assured the chairman that they would be transparent in distributing the materials to the flood victims. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that last year, flood disasters claimed 21 lives and destroyed over 200 communities in the state. The state chairman of the NLC,  Alhaji Usman Ya’u, had on Jan. 25, flagged-off the distribution of N10 million worth of relief materials to victims of the disasters across the state. He said the funds were raised from N200 contributions by his members to assist the victims, many of whom were still leaving in misery, months after the incidents. He said the NLC and its affiliates had earlier embarked on assessment tour of 13 Local Government areas worst hit by the flood. (NAN)