The Sokoto State Government on Wednesday disbursed N95.4 million to committees of 87 Mosques for the upkeep of their respective worship centres.
Gov. Ahmad Aliyu, who disclosed this at the disbursement ceremony, said that the initiative was in fulfilment of his electioneering campaign promises aimed at easing challenges in religious centres.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the amount is to be used as three months of routine maintenance allowances for the Mosques.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Bello Sifawa, charged Mosque committee members to ensure transparency in using the funds.
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He said the funds were meant for routine activities such as; maintenance of electricity, water system, leaking roof, sanitation and other petty petty works in the Mosques.
Aliyu commended the state government committee for careful screening and categorisation of the Mosques, depending on size as well as a chain of activities.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Sheikh Jabir Maihula, said the Mosques were categorised into three grades with 20 on grade 1, 17 on grade 2, while 50 Mosques were on grade 3.
According to Maihula, Mosques on grade 1 will receive N500,000, grade 2, N400,000 and grade 3, will collect N300,000 each month.
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He said each Mosque committee was mandated to open a bank account for monthly payments and a separate committee was constituted to supervise the spending.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the Wazirin Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Wali-Junaid, lauded the Sokoto state government’s efforts to assist religious activities across the state. (NAN)
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