COVID-19: Inconveniences, restrictions make Ramadan more rewarding —NLC

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the restrictions and inconveniences imposed by the novel corona virus has made the observation of this year’s Ramadan far more tasking and indeed more spiritually rewarding for all Muslims.

The congress made this known even as it called on governments at all levels to ensure security of jobs, income and livelihood; warning that this was not the time to cut salaries of workers.

While felicitating all Muslim workers and the Nigerian Muslim community for successfully concluding the observance of the holy month of Ramadan, and Eid-el -Fitr celebration, the congress said their perseverance through the fasting period is a shining embodiment of the spirit of Eid.

In a message signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, the NLC described Eid-el-fitr as a very significant event in the life of every Muslim chiefly because of the virtues it exemplifies.

Wabba said “Eid-el-fitr teaches denial, dedication, discipline, diligence, love and sharing. Eid-el-fitr is also a time of stock taking as Muslims use the period of the Ramadan fasting to take an objective assessment of their areas of strength and weakness. The strengths are consolidated while the weaknesses are strengthened.

“Eid-el-fitr reinforces the lessons of Covid-19. The need to love and to share has never been as profoundly communicated as during the current global fight against Covid-19. There is no better time to share with those who do not have especially the destitute in our midst.

“This year’s Eid-el-fitr also echoes the message of hope which inspires all of us that though the night of COVID-19 might be long but the rays of the dawn of Allah’s benevolent mercies would soon arrive to compensate for all the current troubles.”

He enjoined all Nigerians to keep faith alive; adding, “we urge every Nigerian Muslim and all citizens to fully imbibe the virtues of Eid-el-fitri. Nigerian workers have demonstrated a strong affinity to the values of Eid-el-fitri by soldiering on in self-denial, dedication, and diligence as frontline workers against Covid-19 pandemic.

“Government at all levels and employers can make workers’ load lighter by ensuring the security of jobs, income and livelihood. The Ramadan Holiday is not the time to arbitrarily cut down the salaries of workers or deny workers’ their means of livelihood.

“It is also important to stress that we must all rise to the existential challenges thrown up by the corona virus pandemic. We must take personal responsibilities for our own health especially through abiding by extant public health regulations.”

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