Sallah: Ram sellers beg Nigeria government to pay civil servants, complain of low patronage

The prices of rams have reduced in Gombe.

Ram sellers in Gombe and Edo State have appealed to both the federal and state governments to pay civil servants their salaries early, before the Sallah holidays.

They complained of low patronage of their rams, a situation which has forced a drop in the prices of rams in Gombe metropolis.

A survey conducted in different markets across the Gombe metropolis indicated about 16 per cent drop in prices.

It showed that a ram that cost N60, 000 last week, now sells for N50, 000 while that of N30, 000, had its price tag dropping to N25, 000.

The survey also indicated a drop in the price of small rams, from N11, 000, to N8, 500.

Abubakar Yellow, the Secretary of Livestock Dealers Association, Pantami Livestock market branch in Gombe metropolis, said that the drop in prices was anticipated as there was a general problem of cash squeeze in the state and the country.

Adamu Usman, a livestock dealer at Livestock Market, Chechenya branch in Bauchi metropolis, said they were forced to reduce the price as civil servants that constituted the bulk of their customers, had not been paid salary.

"Civil servants constitute the bulk of our customers; I believe if government pays them this month's salary before Sallah, we shall see changes", Mr. Usman said.

Mr. Usman said that their biggest challenge was spending a lot of money to feed the animals, lamenting that they might not make any profit.

Like Gombe, ram sellers in Edo have also lamented low patronage, barely three days to the Eid-el-Kabir festival.

Those who spoke in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, attributed this development to the prevailing economic situation in the country.

Usman Adamu, a ram seller in Jettu Market, blamed the low patronage on cash squeeze in the country.

"Our customers that used to buy our rams tell us that they don't have money, while the civil servants are telling us that salary has not been paid.

"Last year, we made a lot of sales due to the early payment of salaries to workers, but this year, the customers are complaining of lack of money,'' he said.

Mr. Adamu appealed to the government to pay salaries ahead of Sallah, to enable Muslims buy the rams.

Another ram seller at Aviele market, Kabiru Sado, said that during past festivities, he was selling an average of 20 rams daily, lamenting that this year; he could hardly sell four per day.

"I used to sell up to 25 rams in a day because people came from other neighbouring villages to buy, but now, I hardly sell four as the buyers complain of lack of money,'' he said.

A big ram in Edo costs about N100, 000; an average one, about N55, 000; while a small ram sells for about N35, 000.

(NAN)