The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called for support for the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over the four-day working policy in the state.
The MURIC Director, Prof Ishaq Akintola, made the call on Wednesday in a statement.
As schools resumed on Monday for the second term in the academic session, Governor El-Rufai directed that all schools in the state should operate a four-day school week.
It will be recalled that all civil servants began the same four-day working week about five weeks ago.
Prof Akintola said the governor’s move was commendable, describing it as visionary, equitable and humane.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai has made good his promise to operate a four-day working week in both the education sector and the civil service.
“Schools in Kaduna State were directed to commence the four-day working week on Monday 10th January 2022 while civil servants began operating the new system about five weeks ago.
“This Friday will mark the first school-free and work-free Friday in the state.
“It means, technically, that Friday has become free in Kaduna State.
“We commend El-Rufai for this initiative. We have no doubt that it will improve the health of individual civil servants as they now have more time to rest and check their health status.
“According to the state government, the four-day working week will boost productivity, improve work-life balance and enable workers to have more time for their families, for rest and for agriculture.
“We consider these benefits as low hanging fruits,” Akintola said.
He also said that the long term advantages are far more beneficial to the state and its citizens.
He said, “Capitalism drives the proletariat to death. The four-day working policy is capable of building a more balanced citizenry in the state.
“Considering the fact that Kaduna is a Muslim majority state, the conventional five-day working week has served as a barrier between the average Muslim in the state and his opportunity to get sanctified.
“Spiritual fulfilment and religious guidance have been missing in the lives of the majority of the civil servants, teachers and students in the state who have had to be at work or in the school every Friday under the five-day working week.”
He said that the average Muslim worker must go to work every Friday and may or may not be allowed to enjoy the one or two hours break from 1 pm to 3 pm on that day to attend Jumu’ah (weekly Friday special) prayer.
He said, “Even then he rushes to the mosque from work and dashes back to work immediately after the salat.
“More often than not he misses the sermon or joins other congregants halfway. He gains little or no knowledge at all from the weekly sermon as a result of his regular late arrival since Friday is not free.”
The MURIC Director also said that in comparison, the Christian family has gained tremendously in terms of spiritual fulfilment every Sunday because the day is free.
He said that the average Christian worker or student goes to church on Sunday morning with little or no stress at all, with the family going to the same church and listens to the same sermon before going home together to discuss the day’s message.
He, therefore, charged governors in core Northern states where Muslims are in the absolute majority to emulate Governor El-Rufai by declaring a similar four-day working week in their states.
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