BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

Sokoto state governor, Ahmed Aliyu Wednesday at the Sultan Maccido Institute for Quaranic am General Studies flagged off the disbursement of monthly imprest to 87 Jumu’at mosques across the state.

The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Mohammed Bello Siifawa said the gesture was a fulfillment of his 9-Point Agenda to assist and promote the propagation of the religion of Islam.

“”As part of our plans to execute the campaign promises, our government constituted a committee that screened mosques across the state and 87 were eventually picked to have met the requirement.

“”By this arrangement, 20 of Jumu’a’t mosques will from now henceforth be given 500,000 monthly imprest while 17 others will get 400,000 monthly and the remaining 50 Jumu’at mosques will be given 300,000 every month”. Governor Ahmed Aliyu said.

Speaking in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Ministry for religious affairs, Dr Sani Labaran said the motive behind the gesture as revealed by the government is in fulfilment of his campaign promises to promote religion as done by his political godfather, former governor and now Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

On his part, the Commissioner, Sokoto State Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dr Jabir Isa Maihula said the governor deserve commendation for ensuring that he kept to his promises.

“This, the governor began by ensuring that the request of the clerics to re-establish the Hisbah board was headed to and done in good light.

“”The consideration for this monthly imprest to these Jumu’at mosques according to the is on the basis of the strength and congregation capacity.

“‘This money is for the repairs of mosques, fueling of generators, keeping inside and the environment clean”to Dr Maihula added.

He further disclosed that for the sake of accountability, the imprest would be paid through bank and team of inspectors would be sent to monitor how these funds are being used from time to time.

Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar 111 represented by the Sultanate Council chairman Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Prof Sambo Junaidu Wali thanked the state government even as he further
appealed to religious leaders to fear God in the utilization of the imprest.

Responding on behalf of the benefiting clerics, the Head of Sokoto Cleric’s, Malam Yahaya Na Mallam Boyi thanked the state government for the gesture and urged benefiting clerics to continue to uphold the tenets of the religion.