The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to ensure fair religious representation in the appointment of tutor-generals across the state’s six educational districts.
The Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made this demand on Thursday while reacting to recent clarifications that four Muslims were among the nine permanent secretaries appointed by the governor two days earlier.
According to Akintola, while the clarification addressed concerns over the permanent secretaries, another “monopoly and marginalisation” issue exists in the appointment of tutor-generals, where all six current office holders are Christians.
“Our position is that there should be at least three Muslims among the six tutor-generals in the six educational districts of Lagos State,” Akintola said. “We believe in equal rights. Sharing is loving. We reject monopoly and marginalisation. We have more than enough eminently qualified Muslims for those positions.”
He argued that such imbalance undermines peaceful coexistence in a cosmopolitan state like Lagos. “Only fair sharing can promote peaceful coexistence. There can be no genuine togetherness or sense of belonging where one group is given licence for monopoly while the other is marginalized,” he added.
Akintola also alleged that bureaucratic tactics are often used to prevent Muslims in the civil service from attaining leadership positions. “Sometimes appointments are delayed until Muslims who are qualified for the positions reach retirement age. At other times, Muslims who qualify for promotion to grade 17 are denied until they retire. This wicked practice has to stop,” he said.
MURIC insisted that Lagos should match its advocacy for religious tolerance with actions that reflect inclusivity, warned that lopsided appointments could breed disunity among residents.
