Islamic Forum of Nigeria, has appealed to the federal government to postpone the national population census, due to Ramadan fasting.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the Forum , Professor Salisu Shehu and made available to Radio Nigeria in Kano.
According to the statement, the forum has observed with serious concern that, the time scheduled for the conduct of the national population census, appears to be the month which Muslims worldwide observe their obligatory fasting.
Professor Salisu Shehu explained that, the exercise is a very rigorous one, involving travels across the entire region, where ad-hoc staff can be posted to any part of the country, and remote areas away from their places of origin.
“generally, Muslims, especially those that will travel to remote non-Muslim areas will not even find the convenience and the conducive environment to observe their spiritual duties in Ramadan like TARAWIH PRAYERS at nights, the SAHUR and IFTAR, TAFSEER”
The executive secretary highlighted that, muslims all over the country, staff involved and the people to be enumerated, would find it difficult to cope with the hardship, that may be occasioned by travels in long distances and rigors of the exercise.
The statement pointed out that, the Islamic Forum of Nigeria, is calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria, to consider the plight the population of over one-Hundred and twenty Million (120,000,000) and therefore, prevail on the National Population Commission, to postpone the exercise to a more conducive and convenient time after Ramadan.
He stressed that, considering the ongoing difficulty of the new bank notes scarcity, coupled with staying at home for five days during the exercise, Nigerians would definitely face more difficulties that also needs to be considered by the National Population Commission.
He pointed out that, the forum is aware of the fact that the Census is a national imperative, which is of great importance to national development, and as such, commends the federal government for its resolve and commitment, to conduct the exercise this year as it has been long overdue.
Professor Salisu said, the Forum also appreciates the effective preparations by the National Population Commission in order to ensure successful conduct of the exercise.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
