With less than 4 days to the start of 2020 Ramadan fasting period, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) in Lagos State has appealed to the government as well as private establishments to consider early payment of April salary.
The students body makes case for Nigerian workers particularly the Muslim employees during this covid-19 period, urging employers to pay the April salary before the commencement of this year’s Ramadan fasting.
The Amir, (President) MSSN Lagos state Area Unit, Dr. Saheed Ashafa in a statement, noted that timely payment of the April salary has become expedient due to the lockdown adding that it will enable Muslim workers make provision for the essentials that will sustain them during the fasting period.
He said this gesture would further boost the palliative measures that government and corporate organisations have been doing to cushion the impact of the lockdown occasioned by the ravaging Coronavirus pandemic.
According to him, the expectations of workers from their respective employers at this trying times are enormous considering the financial responsibilities they have to cater for as they stay home.
He said, “It is not out of place for the government and the private sectors to pay their workers their April salary now essentially because of Ramadan.
“To a very large extent, people have demonstrated high level of cooperation and compliance to the orders of government and precautionary measures of the NCDC. As a result, it is only ideal is for employers to show some level of empathy and compassion for their workers because we are first humans before any other thing”.
He urged employers particularly the government to explore all avenues at deploying more strategies and welfare packages that will have direct positive impact in the lives of workers at this most difficult times.
Ashafa equally exhorts the Muslim Ummah to see social distancing even in Ramadan as a necessary religious precept at this trying period.
