The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended former Presidential Aide, Mr. Reno Omokri, for openly supporting the demand for a work-free Friday for Nigerian Muslims.
Omokri had recently stated that Muslims in the country were being unfairly treated, as they were denied work-free Fridays while Christians enjoyed Saturdays and Sundays. His comments quickly went viral, sparking wide debate.
In a statement on Tuesday, MURIC described Omokri as “one of the most intellectually active, politically detribalised, and religiously liberal Christians in Nigeria,” noting that his position vindicated the organisation’s advocacy since its establishment in 1994.
MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, recalled that he had written a book on the subject titled The Friday Question (first published in 1993 and reissued in 2021), in which he argued for a three-day weekend comprising Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The book proposed that the lost hours on Friday could be compensated by adding extra hours between Monday and Thursday.
“Reno Omokri’s declaration on the need for work-free Friday has vindicated our stand since 1994,” Akintola said. “We have been called extremists and fanatics for this advocacy, but the truth has now come from an unexpected source—a Christian social crusader.”
MURIC argued that making Friday work-free would not only allow Muslims to practice their faith more effectively but also reduce ignorance, radicalism, and social vices, particularly among Muslim youths. The group further maintained that Nigerian Christians already enjoy full Sundays with their families, while Muslim families are “scattered” between workplaces and schools during Friday prayers.
The statement stressed that adopting a work-free Friday would create a more enlightened Muslim population, promote religious harmony, and reduce tension in society.
MURIC therefore urged the federal and state governments, especially those in the Muslim-dominated North, to end what it described as the “oppression of Muslims” by declaring Fridays work-free.
“The average Nigerian will benefit from this adjustment,” the group said. “Ignorance is a disease, and a better-informed citizenry, whether Muslim or Christian, will ultimately strengthen the nation.”
