MURIC Demands Friday as Work-Free Day For Muslims In Nigeria

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Nigerian government to declare Friday a work-free day for Muslims, arguing that the current workweek favors Christians while limiting Islamic religious practices.

Speaking on Frontline, a current affairs programme, MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, emphasized that Friday is a full spiritual day in Islam, meant for prayers, meditation, and reflection on Allah.

“Islamic worship starts early in the morning and is not limited to the Jum’ah service,” Akintola explained. “Returning to offices and shops after prayers deprives Muslims of their religious rights.”

He criticized Muslim leaders in public service for failing to advocate for Friday as a spiritual holiday, calling their efforts “half-baked” and lacking in proper understanding of Islam.

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Comparing religious practices, Akintola noted that Christians in Nigeria worship freely with their families on Sundays, while Muslims are restricted on Fridays. He highlighted that many Arab countries already observe Friday as part of the weekend. Recalling history, he mentioned that former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon introduced Saturday as a holiday in 1967, allegedly influenced by his Seventh-Day Adventist wife.

“If the Adventist community of about 700,000 secured Saturday off, Muslims, who form the majority of Nigeria’s 250 million population, should be granted Friday,” he asserted.

Akintola proposed a three-day weekend—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—while suggesting longer weekday working hours to compensate. “It’s a win-win for everyone,” he said.

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Linking the denial of Friday holidays to rising extremism, he argued, “Those denied free Fridays often lack a proper understanding of their religion, leading to extremism.” He condemned the recent mob killing of a woman accused of blasphemy in Niger State, stressing that taking life outside lawful authority is “alien to Islam.”

He also alleged discrimination in religious education, noting cases where Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) teachers are employed in the North, while Muslims in the South-East are denied opportunities to teach Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK).

Akintola urged the government to convene a national conference of religious leaders to promote peaceful coexistence. “Give all religions the freedom to practice, and fanaticism and extremism will reduce,” he concluded.