A clarion call has gone to the rich in the society to also enrich the poor in order to ensure security of lives and property.
Making the appeal was the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, who recommended the payment of Zakat (wealth redistribution) as one of the ways of alleviating poverty in the
country.
Speaking at the 14th Zakat Distribution Ceremony of the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation at Alausa Secretariat Mosque, Ikeja, Adebule noted that the payment of zakat would help to fight insecurity in the country.
During the ceremony, N142.9 million was distributed to 1,516 beneficiaries.
The deputy governor was represented by the Lagos State Chairperson, College of Nigerian Pathologists, Prof. Fatimah
AbdulKareem.
She said, “When we take from the wealthy to distribute to the appropriate beneficiaries, there is constant circulation of wealth such that it is not concentrated in the hands of a few.
“Zakat gives rise to relative equality among mankind. It fosters feeling of love, and harmony as well as cohesion within the society. In the present day Nigeria, wealth circulates among a few while the majority languishes in poverty.
“The few wealthy ones, unfortunately, don’t feel secured living amongst the majority who are poor, hungry and angry; thus the wealthy spends so much on security when all it takes is to give out 2.5 per cent as zakat. It is economic inequality that results in increasing crime, hooliganism and other vices in the society. Zakat is a means to prevent all these vices in the society by ensuring social security.”
In his address, the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdullateef Abdulhakeem, urged government to give legal backing to
Zakat.
He said, “Anyone who possesses wealth must realise that he/she is a distributor on behalf of the giver – Allah. There is so much wealth within the community but because we have failed to activate our sense of generosity, so many people are suffering today.
“Charity will do a lot to alleviate poverty in the society. Zakat is something that even the government should give legal backing to. It will be a form of Public Private Partnership that will assist the government to get funds for the purpose of alleviating poverty.“Organisations like this should be given support. Governance is also about touching lives of the people in the society.”
