- The Nigerian federal government has been urged to declare the first day of the Islamic year as a public holiday, by the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria
- The group commended some states in the country for declaring September 21, Muharram 1, as a work-free day to mark the beginning of the new Islamic year, as is done for January in the Judo/Gregorian calendar
- The group also urged Muslims to refrain from making provocative statements capable of creating bad blood between them and other Nigerians
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, has called on the federal government to make the first day of a new Islamic year - Muharram - a work free day, NAN reports.
The group made the call in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Abdullahi, to commemorate the current Muharram 1, 1439, which falls on Thursday September 21, in llorin, Kwara state.
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NAIJ.com gathers that the coordinator noted that the declaration of the first day of the Islamic calendar as a work free day in Nigeria would give Nigerian Muslims a sense of belonging.
Mr. Abdullahi called on religious leaders and their followers to learn to live in peace with the adherents of other religions.
According to him, Muslims should refrain from making provocative statements capable of creating bad blood between them and other Nigerians.
He stressed the need for mutual tolerance and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians, irrespective of religious affiliations.
The group commended some states in the country that have declared September 21, Muharram 1, as a work-free day to mark the beginning of a new Islamic year as it is done for January in the Judo/Gregorian calendar.
Some of such states include Oyo and Osun.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that Nigeria lost N138 billion by the time activities resumed after a three-day break due to the Eid el-Fitr holiday declared by the federal government.
The reason was because there were scheduled treasury bills auctions estimated at N94 billion, as well as N44 billion treasury bills maturity for the week, which were put off as a result of the three-day break.
Watch this NAIJ.com TV video about a former driver of Bishop Adeoye who converted to Islam
Source: Naij.com
ROSY CREST
Thursday, 21 September 2017