By Professor Ishaq Akintola

‎‎The Department of Pharmacy, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), has allegedly slated a lecture on Lassa fever for Friday, 26th June, 2026 by 12 – 2 pm.

‎‎Meanwhile the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has declared the lecture provocative, illegal and a stumbling block in the path to peaceful coexistence.

‎‎In a statement issued on Monday, 22nd June, 2026, the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola, advised JUTH to review the programme by ensuring that the Jumu’ah period is neither encroached upon nor sandwiched.

‎‎The full statement reads:

‎‎”An internal memo allegedly emanating from the Department of Pharmacy, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), has reportedly slated a lecture on Lassa fever for Friday, 26th June, 2026 by 12 – 2 pm. The memo was signed by Sitlong Goodness on behalf of the chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC).

‎‎”We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) regard the timing of the proposed lecture as an over-reach. Holding a programme in official capacity during Jumu’ah prayer anywhere in Nigeria is an exercise in illegality. The idea is not only provocative but a stumbling block in the path to peaceful coexistence.

‎‎”This scenario suggests either a communication gap between JUTH and the Department of Pharmacy or an attempt by the department to unilaterally organize the lecture without carrying JUTH along.

‎‎”The worst case scenario is more indicting because it presupposes that either the Department of Pharmacy, JUTH or the University of Jos itself (or all the above) are enmeshed in the serial encroachment on Allah-given fundamental human rights of their Muslim staff and students.

‎‎”It had better not be. A university is expected to be a centre of excellence, a reverred institution where rules and regulations are considered sacred; where the principles of equal rights and justice are upheld; where human rights are not only respected but also seen to have been respected. But is this so in the University of Jos?

‎‎”We advise the Department of Pharmacy, JUTH and, by extension the University of Jos to embrace the principles of religious tolerance and respect for the rule of law. Reckless manifestation of impunity regarding the rights of other religious groups is the fastest road to anarchy.

‎‎”This habit is common in public institutions where many senior officials who are Christians see public offices either as extensions of the church or platforms for expanding Christian culture and opportunities for restricting the religious freedom of Muslim workers.

‎‎”They therefore deliberately go out of their ways to schedule critical assignments to coincide with the Jumu’ah period in order to ensure that Muslims are unable to go to the mosque for prayer or the Muslims miss the assignments with the attendant opportunities.

‎‎”Our advisory is therefore not for JUTH or Unijos alone but for all public institutions, government ministries, agencies, parastatals, etc. All attempts to disrupt the Muslim Jumu’ah prayer by whatever men’s must stop. No meetings, symposia, workshops, seminars, conferences, lectures, assignments, tests, examinations, etc should be slated for the Muslim Jumu’ah period.

‎‎”How would the Christians feel if Muslim bosses or lecturers fix any of the above for 10 am on a Sunday? It is not only absurd, it is illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional.

‎‎”That is why Section 38(i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria prohibits such practices. That law grants both Muslims and Christians freedom of religion. Perhaps MURIC will soon explore the legal option by taking the next recalcitrant Nigerian official or institution to court.

‎‎”Let us avoid actions capable of igniting religious upheaval because what Nigeria needs most today is peace and the latter will continue to evade us so long as we fail to respect Allah-given fundamental human rights of other religious groups.

‎‎”Before we sign out, we urge the Provost of Jos University Teaching Hospital, acting in loco parentis, to properly guide the Head of the Department of Pharmacy to change either the time or date of the lecture on Lassa fever billed for the University auditorium, Lamingo.

‎‎”A good idea is facing criticism due to the defective channel adopted by the organizers.”

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).