The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticised the handling of the Lagos State Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) timetable, describing its withdrawal following public outcry as evidence of poor planning and alleged religious bias.
The Lagos State Government had withdrawn the timetable shortly after its release, amid complaints that an examination—Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK)—was scheduled during the Friday Jumu’ah prayer period. Authorities promised to issue a revised version but gave no official reason for the withdrawal.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, condemned the development, attributing it to what he described as Islamophobia, dereliction of duty, and lack of inclusivity in decision-making.
Akintola argued that the scheduling of a major examination between 12:00 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. on a Friday showed disregard for Muslim students, noting that similar controversies had occurred in the past. He expressed concern that lessons had not been learned despite repeated public debates on respecting religious obligations.
The group further criticised the absence of an explicit acknowledgment by authorities that the timetable conflicted with Friday prayers, describing the silence as “official hypocrisy.” It also questioned whether Muslims were adequately represented in the examination planning process.
MURIC alleged that the situation reflected broader issues of religious imbalance in public administration in the South-West, calling on state governments to ensure fair representation of both Muslims and Christians in political appointments and policy decisions.
The organisation maintained that proper consultation and inclusivity would have prevented the controversy, adding that accountability was necessary. “Heads would have rolled in saner climes,” the statement noted, while urging authorities to improve oversight.
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As part of its recommendations, MURIC called for all Friday examinations to end before noon to accommodate Muslim prayers, stressing that mutual respect among religious groups is essential for social harmony.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the rights of Muslims through constitutional means, warning against what it described as ongoing religious marginalisation.
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