Religious pilgrimages: The Lagos, Kaduna example

For many Nigerians who have criticized the sponsorship of Muslims and Christians on pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem in Israel by federal and state governments in the country, the decision by Lagos and Kaduna state governments to end such sponsorship is not only commendable but should be emulated.

Recall that Kaduna State government last year stopped sponsorship of religious pilgrimages as part of measures to rescue the state from its precarious financial situation.

Adducing reasons for its decision on Thursday, Commissioner for Home Affairs in Lagos State, Hon. Abdulateef Abdulhakeem, said the government decided to end sponsorship of religious pilgrimages because it amounts to injustice for certain individuals to continue to benefit from the government to the detriment of other numerous members of the society, adding that it was not a responsible way to spend tax payers’ money.

Hear him: “In this day and time when we are talking about paucity of funds coupled with inhibiting challenges that the government has to take care of, we can no longer afford to spend the sum of one million on one single individual to go on pilgrimage when the scripture did not compel anyone to do so.

“So it is most irresponsible way of spending tax payer’s money. That is why the government has taken a solid decision that we will be accountable and responsible for every kobo that the tax payers pay to the government. It is an injustice for the government to be spending millions on group of people when millions of Lagosians are yearning for government’s attention.”

Though paucity of funds may have influenced the decision by Lagos and Kaduna state governments to end sponsorship of religious pilgrimages, both governments should however be commended for mustering the political will to confront a sensitive matter as this.

It remains however to be seen if the federal and other state governments will be courageous enough to emulate this example by Lagos and Kaduna state governments.

Fact is that in a secular country like Nigeria, government ab intio has no reason to sponsor individuals to religious pilgrimages. Those who so wish should sponsor themselves to such religious pilgrimages and spare the government the expenditure therefrom.