The Companion, Association of Muslim Men in Business and the Professions has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently find a lasting solution to hunger and mass poverty among ordinary Nigerians.
National Ameer, The Companion, Engr Kamil Olalekan made the appeal on Sunday while declaring open 2023 Dawah Holiday Programme (DPH), held at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Ede, Osun State, where over 300 Muslim youths were camped and expected to take part in a rigorous Islamic trainings for 11 days.
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Engr Olalekan while speaking, enjoined government to do everything within its reach to checkmate the astronomical increase in prices of goods and services.
“I hereby call on the government to put more efforts and implement policies that will not only reduce hunger and poverty in the land but also checkmate astronomical increase in prices of goods and services.
“The spending on social investment must be increased substantially in 2024 to include free feeding for extremely poor and vulnerable citizens for six months. Salaries must also not only be paid promptly, they should be reviewed to reflect the inflationary rate”.
While urging the children and youth to be moderate in spending considering the current economic reality, the national Ameer of the Companion said children must be contented with whatever their parents were able to provide them.
He said: “I wish to reiterate that this year DHP is holding at a time when Nigeria economy is facing multiple challenge and virtually all citizens are affected in one way of the other.
“The removal of oil subsidy and devaluation of the naira has increased the hardship faced by the Nigerians. This period therefore, calls for frugal spending and complete avoidance of waste in line with the teachings of Islam.
“I call on our children and the youth in general to be considerate in their demands on their parents in this hard time and be contented with what their parents are able to provide for their upkeep in this austere time”
Reacting on the removal of universities and tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), Engr Olalekan described the decision of the president as a right step in the right direction.
He however, urged management of tertiary institutions to reciprocate the gesture with prudent and financial management.
He said: “It is apt at this juncture to welcome the announcement to exclude our tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
“This is welcome development which should bring calm to our institutions and hopefully prevent incessant strike. The government should also honour other agreements reached with lecturers.
“I hereby call on the management of our tertiary institutions to reciprocate this gesture with prudent spending and financial management”.
On the theme of the year’s DHP programme- “Towards A Striving Ummah”, Ameer said it was carefully chosen in recognition of the rapid changing local and global environment where the pace of change is fast, sometimes confusing, deceitful and challenging especially for Muslim youths whose goal is to earn the pleasure of of Allah and achieve success in this world and in hereafter.
The Guest Lecturer, Engr Taofeeq Adekunle Abdul-Hameed urged urged Muslim Ummah to be humble with whatever blessings Allah has bestowed upon them.
Abdul-Hameed, the pioneer Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Ogbomoso also charged Nigerian youth to make use of social media in a positive way.
