Egalitarian Voice reports that the Niger State Government has declared a five-day public holiday next week for the proper monitoring and distribution of Ramadan foodstuffs.
The government had earlier budgeted N976m for the procurement of the items for feeding in the 25 local government areas of the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Binta Mamman, made this known in a statement on Friday in which she said the public holidays were to enable the civil servants and public officeholders to monitor and distribute the Ramadan feeding.
“Monday to Friday next week have been declared public holidays. This is to enable civil servants and political office holders to participate in the distribution and monitoring of the palliatives and Ramadan feeding in their various local government areas,” she stated.
The commissioner, who appealed to the civil servants and political officeholders to see the task as a call for service to humanity, urged citizens to cooperate with the officials and be orderly at all distribution and feeding points for a smooth and successful exercise.
While enjoining citizens to seize the opportunity to pray for the peace and tranquilly of the state and Nigeria as a whole, Mamman thanked Governor Mohammed Bago for making funds available.
Meanwhile, the state Head of Service, Abubakar Salisu, has disclosed that the governor has approved an official work hour during the Ramadan fasting period.
He said the new working hours for civil servants in the state is 9am to 2pm from Monday to Thursday and 9am to 1pm on Friday.
Salisu said the governor enjoined Muslim faithful to use the period to rededicate themselves to the teachings of Islam and pray for the peace, security, unity and progress of the state and country at large.
