Kano State Zakkah and Endowment Commission is to distribute N1billion Zakkah collections to indigent people in the state, director-general of the commission Alhaji Safiyanu Gwagwarwa has disclosed.

He told journalists Monday that the commission had since commenced screening of the beneficiaries who would be given N10, 000 each.

The DG further disclosed that the screening would be carried out in phases as the commission has completed the screening of the first and second batches of the beneficiaries.

"The screening of the third batch of 1,000 persons comprising orphans has also commenced in earnest," he said.

Gwagwarwa said that each beneficiary would collect N10, 000 after filling a form, to ensure accountability and transparency in the disbursement of the money.

The collection was made from wealthy individuals, including commissioners and other top government officials in the state, for the purpose of distributing to poor people as demanded by Islamic religion, he said.

He said the commission had also planned to distribute grains to the needy in addition to offsetting the medical bills of sick persons who could not afford to pay the bills.

Gwagwarwa therefore called on well-to-do individuals to ensure prompt payment of their Zakkah to the commission as required by Islam for onward distribution to the poor and the needy as demanded by Islam. "This is necessary in order to assist the poor so as to prevent them from going out to beg for alms."

He said the commission had recently carried out public enlightenment campaigns to sensitise wealthy individuals on the need to ensure prompt payment of the Zakkah.