By Patrick Idowu
As the Eid al-Adha celebration approaches, many civil servants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have decried the rising cost of living, saying their salaries can no longer afford the purchase of rams for the annual festival.
In separate interviews with AbujaCityJournal on Tuesday, some of the workers expressed frustration over the worsening economic situation, attributing their plight to high inflation and the removal of fuel subsidy, which they say has driven up transportation and food costs.
Mr. Adamu Mohammed, a civil servant, said he had visited four ram markets but was unable to purchase one due to the exorbitant prices.
“In fact, I went to four different markets where rams are sold, but I couldn’t buy any. A medium-sized ram was priced at ₦220,000. This same size cost me ₦140,000 last year. My salary just can’t cover that now,” he lamented.
Mohammed added that he has opted instead to buy two chickens and half a bag of rice for his family to mark the celebration, in line with Islamic teachings.
“Allah has said if you can’t afford a ram, don’t borrow or buy it on credit. There is no reward for that,” he said.
Another civil servant, Mr. Tijani Abubakar, echoed similar sentiments, stating that his monthly income could not cover the current cost of rams in the market.
Mr. Saliu Mustapha, a primary school teacher in the FCT, also lamented the situation, blaming the inability of area council chairmen to pay teachers’ salary arrears as a major setback.
“If the area council chairmen had paid the eight months’ arrears owed to teachers, some of us would have managed to buy a ram,” he said.
He noted that many teachers are unable to partake in the traditional Sallah sacrifice, not only due to the increased prices of rams but also because of the persistent non-payment of entitlements by the FCT Area Councils.
“The rising cost of rams is making it difficult for ordinary people to observe the religious obligation of sacrifice. It’s sad that this year, many teachers in the FCT will miss out,” Mustapha added.
Their complaints reflect the broader challenges faced by low- and middle-income earners in Nigeria, who continue to grapple with the effects of economic reforms and inflation.
