KUDOS TO REPS FOR BILL ON WIDOWS LEAVE – MURIC

 

21^st March, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

KUDOS TO REPS FOR BILL ON WIDOWS LEAVE – MURIC

 

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has commended members of the House of Representatives for allowing a bill seeking to grant widows and widowers five months and one month bereavement leaves respectively to pass through its second reading. The bill scaled through the second reading yesterday, Tuesday, 20^th March, 2024.

 

MURIC’s commendation for the House of Representatives was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, 21^st March, 2024. The statement was signed by the Founder and Executive Director of the advocacy group for Allah-given fundamental human rights, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“A bill seeking to grant widows and widowers five months and one month bereavement leaves respectively scaled through the second reading in the House of Representatives yesterday, Tuesday, 20^th March, 2024. The bill was sponsored by the member representing Bida/Katcha/Gbako Federal Constituency, Niger State, Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi (https://punchng.com/reps-propose-five-month-bereavement-leave-for-widows/).

 

“It will be recalled that MURIC issued a statement captioned ‘Give Widows 4 and Half Months Leave – MURIC’ on 11^th January, 2024 (https://guardian.ng/news/muric-advocates-four-and-half-months-leave-for-widows/; https://championnews.com.ng/give-widows-4-and-half-months-leave-muricgive-widows-4-and-half-months-leave-muric/; https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2024/01/12/give-widows-four-and-half-months-leave-muric/)

 

“The fact that the Nigerian House of Representatives took up the matter to make the advocacy a fait accompli demonstrates how lawmakers and non-governmental organisations can collaborate for the betterment of society.

 

“We give kudos to the leadership and all members of the House for allowing this bill to pass through its second reading. In particular, we commend the honourable member representing Bida/Katcha/Gbako Federal Constituency, Niger State, Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi, popularly known as SMA, for his commitment to the upliftment of the welfare of his constituents in particular and Nigerians in general.

 

“We urge Nigerians from all walks of life to support the bill particularly during its public hearing. It should be noted that it is not necessarily an issue for Muslims alone but a case of special public interest from which all of us stand to benefit immensely. This bill is not designed for Muslim women and men alone but for Muslims, Christians, traditionalists and all. We all stand to gain from this.

 

Any woman, whether she is a Muslim, Christian or traditionalist, whose husband dies will enjoy the leave for five months. This will enable her to overcome the psychological trauma and prepare her to face her post-widowhood challenges.

 

“The bill is also a launching pad for bringing Nigeria into international limelight in the area of legislation. For whereas Australia and Brazil allow two days only for bereavement, US, Canada, France and Spain give just three days while widows are entitled to 15 days in India and 60 days in the Philippines, Nigeria is going to emerge as a most human rights compliant country that gives full recognition to Allah-given fundamental human rights of its bereaved citizens.

“It is equally noteworthy that the Nigerian Labour Act 2004 said nothing about bereavement leave. Based on the Public Sector Rules which says, ‘An officer may be allowed special leave from duty on full pay on compassionate ground for a period up to two weeks for the burial of spouse/child/parents/parents of spouse’, public sector employers give 14 days leave to their bereaved workers. Therefore there is an obvious lacuna in our laws yawning to be filled. There is no scintilla of doubt that the proposed bill will serve this purpose.

“It is also necessary to consider the Nigerian cultural context because the way people mourn is deeply rooted in their culture. In many parts of Nigeria, the burial of the deceased usually takes place after a few weeks or months and the traditional mourning period for widows is between three months and one year, depending on the area. Giving the widow and widower five and one months respectively will improve their health condition and boost productivity on their resumption of duty.”

#KudosHouseOfRepresentatives

#WidowsWidowersLeave

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

KILLING OF 16 SOLDIERS: IT IS A STAB IN THE BACK - MURIC

 

19^th March, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

KILLING OF 16 SOLDIERS: IT IS A STAB IN THE BACK - MURIC

 

16 officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army 181 Amphibious Battalion comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers were brutally killed while on a peace mission in Okuama Community of Delta State on Thursday, 14^th March, 2024. Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has condemned the attack. The group described the act as cowardly, criminal, barbaric and unpatriotic.

 

The human rights organization spoke on Tuesday, 19th March, 2024 through its founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

 

The full statement reads:

 

"Criminal elements in Okuama Community of Delta State attacked and killed 16 officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army 181 Amphibious Battalion comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers. The troops were killed while on a peace mission in the community on Thursday, 14^th March, 2024. 

 

"This unprovoked attack is unjustifiable by any parameter and we strongly condemn it. It is cowardly, criminal, barbaric and unpatriotic. The fact that there was no prior confrontation or act of aggression on the part of the soldiers before the attack makes the killings premeditated, inhuman and heartless.

 

"It is only criminals and unscrupulous elements who hate and kill security agents. It is also only such hoodlums and social miscreants who burn and destroy buildings and vehicles belonging to security agents and the government. 

 

"MURIC advises community leaders in Okuama to expose those behind the heinous crime. We also advise the suspects to turn themselves in with immediate effect in order to preserve the good name of the community.

 

"We call on Nigerians to evolve the culture of cherishing their heroes. Our security agencies including the army, police and the Department of State Services (DSS) deserve our respect and cooperation. They are at the forefront of all security challenges. The army in particular is our first line of defence. That is why we are deeply hurt that men of the Nigerian Army were killed in this callous manner by the same people whom they were protecting. It is a stab in the back.

 

"The security agencies stay awake so that we can sleep. They are in the trenches under rain and burning sun so that we can enjoy the comfort of our homes. They leave their families for months so that we can be among our loved ones. It amounts to articulated ingratitude to attack those who give so much to us. 

 

“We appeal to Nigerians to continue to support security agents and to report crimes and criminals to them promptly without fear. The army, police and DSS alone cannot do the work effectively. They need us and it is part of our civic responsibility to cooperate with them.

 

"MURIC assures the leadership and men of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies that millions of Nigerians are with them in their efforts to fight criminality and restore normalcy in the country. The few criminals in Okuama are just a drop in the ocean. The rest of us should not be judged by a handful who are shameless saboteurs. We therefore urge the army to put this sad incident behind it.

 

"We urge the Federal Government to institute a special Medal of Okuama to be given post humously to the 12 heroes and subsequently to be reserved for soldiers slain in like manner in future.

 

“As we mourn the fallen patriots and heroes, we condole with the army leadership and pray that Allah will give their respective families the fortitude to bear this irrepairable loss.”

 

#16Soldiers

#SupportSecurityAgents

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

RAMADAN: SOUTH WEST GOVERNORS' HOSPITALITIES HYPOCRITICAL – MURIC

 

13^th March, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

RAMADAN: SOUTH WEST GOVERNORS' HOSPITALITIES HYPOCRITICAL – MURIC

 

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has berated governors of South West Nigeria for extending brief hospitalities to Muslims during Ramadan and Salah while denying them basic rights, employment and political inclusion. The group described the governors' attitude as hypocritical, deceptive and camelionic.

 

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday, 13th March, 2024 by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

 

He said:

 

"As usual, Governors of the South West recently invited Muslim leaders to Ramadan programmes in their respective government quarters to mark the commencement of the Muslim fasting in the sacred month of Ramadan. This is a common practice as some state governors extend such invitation both at the beginning of Ramadan and at its end. 

 

"We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) resent this hospitality because of the refusal of the South West governors to respect the wish of Muslims in the region, to wit, respect for Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslims and deliberate marginalization of the latter in political appointments. It is on record that the governors have refused to change despite agitations by Muslim leaders.  It is therefore hypocritical, deceptive and camelionic for the same governors to invite Muslim leaders for Ramadan or Salah parties. What are we rejoicing about?

 

"For instance, it is on record that all the six Christian governors of the region shortchanged their Muslim citizens during the formation of their cabinets after the 2023 general elections. The figures reeled out in the cabinets of all six states in the region expose the alarming level of lopsided political appointments.

 

"The governor of Lagos State appointed 49 Christian commissioners but gave the Muslims 14 only. Ogun State has 16 Christian commissioners against only 4 Muslims. Oyo has 10 Christian commissioners compared to only 6 Muslims in the cabinet. In Osun State, 17 Christian commissioners are rubbing shoulders with just 7 Muslims. It is the same in Ekiti where the ratio is 24:1 and Ondo where it was 15:2 under the late Governor Akeredolu.

 

"Even the new governor of Ondo State, Lucky Ayedatiwa, has shut out Muslims from his administration as there is no single Muslim among the six commissioners and twelve permanent secretaries appointed so far. The only Muslim in his administration is a special adviser. 

 

"Senior Muslim civil servants who qualify to be permanent secretaries and directors in the ministries are usually ignored while Christians who are less qualified are elevated to those positions. Muslim graduates are also denied employment.

 

"Against this clumsy backdrop created by the biased governors, Muslim leaders are assembled during Ramadan and Id al-Kabir to wine and dine with the same governors who robbed their followers blind. 

 

"They are invited to come for just one breakfast or dinner consisting of crumbs from the table after being deliberately impoverished through political and economic marginalisation. It is our submission that South West Muslims deserve better treatment. They deserve to be treated like full homo sapiens compos mentis, not like monkeys with chains around their waists to be teased with bananas.

 

"We call on Muslim leaders in the South West to call the bluff of the state governors. They should boycott all future invitations to government events and occasions until the governors respect the view of Muslims. These single plates of food are window-dressings. They constitute a mockery and a monumental embarrassment to the dignity of the Muslim person. 

 

"This master-slave relationship must stop. We are not blind. We see the red-carpet reception and the great reverence, pomp and pageantry in the treatment of bishops and general overseers of churches when they come to government house. This contrasts sharply with the beggarly treatment meted out to Muslim leaders when they come visiting. We affirm clearly, categorically and unequivocally that Muslims are not second class citizens. 

 

"To the six governors of the South West we have this to say, 'We will interact with you on the basis of stakeholders with equal rights or there will be no interaction at all. It is when you treat us as you treat others and give us equal political and economic opportunities that we will know you are ready for full integration.

 

“Therefore, stop inviting us to government dinners and breakfasts unless it is to discuss the grievances which we have complained about or it is for the purpose of getting our share of our collective patrimony. Even then you are not doing us a favour. It is our right as tax payers and bona fide citizens of the states. It is enough to give the press your Ramadan and Salah messages. Don't give us fish. Give us hooks, lines and sinkers and we will definitely catch the fish. We are not Dundee United.'

 

"MURIC charges Muslim leaders in the South West to protect the honour and dignity of Muslims by boycotting all future dinners and breakfasts organized by the governors of the South West. They are mocking us. We must boycott their Ramadan and Salah events to call their attention to our resentment of their attitude towards us.

 

“A popular axiom says, ‘Fool me once, shame on you. But fool me twice, shame on me.’ Muslim leaders must prove that they are prepared to emancipate their followers by rejecting sycophancy and by displaying high level principled behaviour. We must manifest responsible leadership.

 

“Stop selling the future and rights of Muslim youths for Salah ram and crumbs from governors’ breakfast tables. Posterity will not be kind to Muslim leaders who sell themselves for a pot of porridge. It is better to be free and honoured Muslims in our poor mosques and homes than live like puppets, palace clowns and slaves licking governors’ plates and picking up crumbs from their tables.”

 

#SouthWestGovernors

#HoldTheCrumbs

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

RAMADAN MESSAGE: FEED HUNGRY NIGERIANS, PRAY FOR THE DEFEAT OF BOKO HARAM – MURIC

 

11^th March, 2024

RAMADAN MESSAGE:

FEED HUNGRY NIGERIANS, PRAY FOR THE DEFEAT OF BOKO HARAM – MURIC 

 

A faith-based non-governmental organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has appealed to wealthy Muslims to feed poor citizens regardless of their religious backgrounds. In a special Ramadan message to Nigerians, the group called on Muslims to use the special spiritual power which is divinely embedded in the month of Ramadan to pray for the defeat of Boko Haram and all terrorist groups.

 

MURIC also asked Muslims to pray for Allah’s guidance and protection for the duo of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

 

The group’s special Ramadan message which was released on Monday, 11^th March, 2024 was signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

Below is the full text of the Ramadan message:

 

“Nigerian Muslims joined more than one and a half billion Muslims around the world to kick-start the 2024 Ramadan season today, 11^th March, 2024. Ramadan fasting which was prescribed in the Glorious Qur’an (2:183) usually lasts 30 or 29 days.

 

“We seize the opportunity of this divinely ordained season to pay tributes to those whom Allah has given the mandate to rule Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. In the same vein, we pay homage to the leader of all Nigerian Muslims, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar.

 

“Though economic hardship is a global phenomenon and not a result of any negligence, bad policy or wicked act of current Nigerian leaders, we urge our leaders to think outside the box in the search of a durable solution to the problem of hunger and general economic hardship.

 

“We call on wealthy Muslims to see the Ramadan season as an opportunity to give, to share and to feed poor Nigerians. They can arrange daily iftar (breaking of fast) for hundreds of Muslims through existing Islamic organisations.

 

“Nonetheless, we remind all Muslims that such iftar platforms should not be restricted to Muslims alone. It must be open to people of all faiths because hunger knows no religion. The current hardship has affected men and women of all faiths and ethnicities.

 

“Our appeal for sharing food and drinks is not addressed to the wealthy alone. We call on average Muslims as well to share the little they have, including fruits, vegetables and beverages with their neighbours. Generosity and hospitality are not measured by the size of possessions. In fact it is those who give others from the little they have who are most generous. That is why Allah describes those who spend both in prosperity and hardship as righteous (Glorious Qur’an 3:134).

 

“We charge Islamic scholars to take full responsibility for divine intervention in the affairs of Nigeria. Islamic clerics must see this Muslim-Muslim ticket as their special political project which must not fail. Therefore, they must engage in ceaseless prayers for its success. Only thus can they consolidate the monumental victory of February 25, 2023.

 

“Our prayer points must include the following:

 

1.  Pray for Nigeria to overcome ongoing economic hardship;

2.  Pray for the success of the current administration;

3.  Ask Allah to guide our leaders with His divine wisdom;

4.  Pray for Allah’s protection for President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima;

5.  Pray for the defeat of Boko Haram and all terrorist groups and

6.  Pray that Allah steers the minds of Nigerians, particularly the youth, away from immoralities and self-destruction towards hardwork and progress.

 

“We remind Islamic scholars in particular and the Nigerian people in general, of the importance of praying for our leaders and wishing them well. It is the hoi polloi that stand to benefit most when we pray for our leaders because when the hen perches on a rope, neither the rope nor the hen will remain stable in their positions. It is only when our leaders enjoy peace of mind that they can plan effectively for the citizens.”

 

#Ramadan

#PrayForThe Leaders

#PrayForNigeria

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

CRISIS IN OSUN JUDICIARY: WE ARE VINDICATED – MURIC

 

4^th March, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

CRISIS IN OSUN JUDICIARY: WE ARE VINDICATED – MURIC  

 

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has waded into the crisis in the Osun State judiciary where courts have been shut and workers gone on strike since November 2023. MURIC said it is vindicated in its 2022 allegations against the state’s Chief Justice.

 

The assertion was made in a press statement issued on Monday, 4^th March, 2024 by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The statement reads :

 

“The Osun state judiciary has remained shut for more than three months following an industrial dispute declared by the state’s branch of the Judiciary Workers Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). The courts have been under lock and key since 22^nd November, 2023.

 

“Among the issues in contention are the high handedness of Hon Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo who was sworn in on 17^th June, 2013 as the 6^th Chief Judge of the state. She was accused of unilaterally, arbitrarily and whimsically suspending five workers of the judiciary without reference to the Judicial Service Commission of Osun.

 

“All five workers reportedly appeared in court and were discharged and acquitted. Three others who faced a panel set up by the Chief Justice herself were allegedly exonerated by the panel. Yet they could not spend one kobo from their salaries as they had to return same to the finance department.

 

“Asides these, wardrobe allowances are denied judges in the state. The judiciary library has not been functioning despite the humongous sum of N12 million remitted every month for the operation. There is no promotion, everyone is stagnated. The e-affidavit which costs N1,000 each was given out to a private consultant who remits only N250.00 to the state coffers while nobody knows where the remaining N750.00 goes.

 

“We are accustomed to seeing the judiciary being neglected by other arms of government. But this is a horse of another colour. The attack on Osun judiciary is from the inside, nay, from the very top. It is undeniable self-immolation. It is the height of high handedness and the apex of disrespect for the rule of law.

 

“But it was the chief Justice’s anti-Islamic sentiment that first caught our attention two years ago. It will be recalled that MURIC berated her as a religiously biased judicial leader about two years ago (https://guardian.ng/news/stop-victimising-muslim-judges-muric-tells-osun-chief-judge/; https://iwitness.com.ng/stop-victimising-muslim-judges-muric-tells-osun-cj/).

.

 

 

“In a statement dated 16^th October, 2022, MURIC accused the CJ of victimizing Muslim members of the judiciary in the state. She was reported to have personally and physically stopped a mosque development project. She arranges trips and events for honourable judges without regard for Islamic festivals and rituals.

 

“Qualified Muslim lawyers are allegedly denied appointment to bench vacancies. This religious angle led judiciary workers to accuse her of religious divisiveness among judges and staff.

 

“MURIC has now been vindicated. The ongoing crisis in the state which is orchestrated by the attitude of the Chief Justice has proved us right. The hoi polloi have no hope if the judiciary is not fair to themselves. How then can we expect them to be fair to the ordinary man in the street. Confidence in Osun judiciary can only be restored when Chief Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo climbs down from her high horse.

 

#OsunJudiciary

#OsunCJRespectRuleofLaw

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

ALLEGED PROBE OF EX-NAHCON BOSS: MURIC BLASTS AUTHORS OF FAKE STORY

 

1^st March, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

ALLEGED PROBE OF EX-NAHCON BOSS: MURIC BLASTS AUTHORS OF FAKE STORY

An online media house on Monday, 26^th February, 2024 published a story where it claimed that the former chairman of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Barrister Dhikrullah Hassan, was invited and grilled for hours by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

Meanwhile the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the story as fake, odious, odoriferous and a lie from the pit of Jahannam. The group also described those behind it as petty, mean and cowards.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued on Friday 1st March, 2024 by the Executive Director of the human rights organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The full statement reads:

"An online media house on Monday, 26^th February, 2024 published a story where it claimed that the former chairman of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Barrister Dhikrullah Hassan, was invited and grilled for hours by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

"As a human rights outfit dedicated to the pursuit of truth, we did our homework before reacting. Our findings reveal that the story was a hatchet job. Somebody somewhere wanted to puncture the good works of Barrister Dhikrullah Hassan.

"But they failed woefully. This online media house has succeeded in exposing itself as pedestrian, jejune and subatomic. 

"The interviews conducted by MURIC exposed the authors as pathological liars because whereas they claimed that the six executive secretaries of the pilgrims board in the South-West wrote a petition against Barrister Dhikrullah Hassan, such a thing never happened and those interviewed denied writing such a petition. 

"They said there was no reference at all to the former chairman of NAHCON because what they wrote was not even a petition but an appeal to the authorities to pay their emoluments for the 2022 hajj which was disrupted by COVID-19. They were also aware that the delay in the payment was due to the usual bureaucracy for which ministries and agencies are well known and over which the ex-NAHCON chief executive had no power. 

"One of those we spoke with described the former chairman, Dhikrullah Hassan, as '...A very nice man. He is our father … We wrote no petition against him.'

"We therefore wonder where the media house got its cock and bull story from. It is clearly a hatchet job concocted from their figment of imagination. It is nothing but a product of yellow journalism designed to tarnish the good name of a man of integrity. We cannot rule out a developing campaign of calumny still in its embryo stage. 

"It is as clear as daylight that the story is fake, odious, odoriferous and a lie from the pit of Jahannam. Those behind it are petty, mean, mischievous and cowards.

"Barrister Dhikrullah Hassan is a worthy ambassador of Nigerian Muslims. He stands on the same pedestal with Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Professor Ali Isa Pantami, Mallam Adamu Adamu, etc. It is our duty as an Islamic human rights organization to challenge and expose mischief makers who attempt to tarnish the reputation of heroes of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah.  

"MURIC therefore warns those behind such diabolical plot to desist and rethink because we will not hesitate to go all out after them if they persist in their luciferous ways."

#NAHCON

#DhikrullahHassan

#StopCampainOfCalumny

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).