Sokoto government introduce monthly allowances for religious leaders

The Sokoto state government has introduced monthly allowances for Imams, their deputies, and Mu’azzins throughout the state, in addition to new allocations for Jumu’at Mosques.

The state director general of media and publicity, Abubakar Bawa confirmed this on Saturday, August 30, stating that the initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen the propagation of Islam and promote the memorization of the Qur’an among children.

The governor Ahmed Aliyu announced the measures on Saturday at the graduation of 111 Qur’an memorisers from the Sokoto branch of the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation.

Aliyu explained that the new allowances and mosque allocations were designed to support clerics in carrying out their duties effectively while ensuring that the teachings of Islam continue to thrive in the state.

He said, “We have also introduced monthly cash allocations to all our Jumu’at Mosques, ranging from N300,000 to N500,000 depending on their category.

“In addition, monthly allowances have been introduced for Imams, their deputies, and Mu’azzins across the state to support them in the discharge of their duties.”

The governor noted that Islamic affairs remain central to his administration’s Nine-point smart agenda, ranking second only to security.

“Encouraging Qur’anic memorisation among our children will help raise a generation that upholds the good teachings of Islam in line with the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),” Aliyu added.

He also directed the school management to identify land for the establishment of a permanent site, assuring that the state government would provide the necessary support.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, praised Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi for establishing the foundation and lauded scholars in the state for promoting Islamic ideals and peaceful coexistence.

Former Sokoto governor, Aliyu Wamakko, represented by Aminu Sufi, urged parents to encourage their children to embrace Qur’anic memorisation.

The religious school’s proprietor, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, represented by Ibrahim Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, said the foundation’s expansion to other states was aimed at keeping children in structured Qur’anic learning environments and reducing street begging.

Each of the 111 graduands received N20,000 and clothing materials from the Sokoto state government during the ceremony, which ended with Qur’anic recitations and prize presentations.