Kano, – The Kano State Zakkat and Endowment Board said it had disbursed more than N13 million as Zakkat (alms) to the poorest of the poor in 2016.
The Director General of the board, Alhaji Sufiyanu Gwagwarwa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Thursday that the money was disbursed across the state.
Gwagwarwa said the money was collected from well-to-do Muslims by the committee on Zakkat collection and disbursement.
The director general said the board had also distributed 225 sacks of rice, 200 sets of clothes and 14 goats to the needy during the period under review.
“The essence of collecting and distributing the Zakkat is to assist the poor to alleviate their sufferings,” Gwagwarwa said.
He said the zakat committees in the 44 local government areas would intensify effort towards the collection of the alms for onward disbursement to the poor in the state.
The director general advised wealthy Muslims to ensure prompt payment of their Zakkat to enable the board disburse same to the needy in the society.
He said as part of renewed effort to enhance the collection the Zakkat, the state government had last year set up a committee under the leadership of the state Commissioner of Finance.
“Prompt payment of Zakkat will check begging among the poor in addition to reducing poverty in the society,” Gwagwarwa said.
According to him, the board had mapped out additional strategies to enhance the collection of the alms across the 44 local government areas of the state.
He said the local government committees had been mandated to ensure that they collect the Zakkat and Endowment from well-to-do individuals within in their respective areas.
