Reno Omokri: Friday Workday Unfair to Muslims, Calls for Policy Review

Former presidential aide and social commentator, Reno Omokri, has stirred fresh debate over Nigeria’s work schedule, describing it as “unfair” to Muslims that Fridays remain official workdays while Sundays are reserved for Christian worship.

In a video shared on his social media, Omokri argued that the arrangement reflects colonial-era influence rather than Nigeria’s religious diversity. He pointed out that while Christians enjoy a full day of rest for Sunday services, Muslims are often forced to juggle work commitments with Jumu’ah (Friday) prayers.

To correct this imbalance, he suggested a shift in Nigeria’s official working hours—commencing at 7:30 a.m. from Monday to Friday, with offices closing by 12:00 p.m. on Fridays. According to him, such a structure would preserve national productivity and GDP output while giving Muslims adequate time to observe their religious obligations.

“Before colonialism, Friday was traditionally a day of rest for Muslims here. What we have today tilts the balance in favour of Christianity,” Omokri remarked, stressing the need for inclusivity.

The former aide also urged policymakers and religious leaders to embrace equity in national scheduling, warning against a system that privileges one faith over another. He maintained that productivity would not suffer, since earlier work hours would compensate for the shortened Friday schedule.

Omokri has previously spoken about what he considers Christian dominance in Nigeria’s holiday and calendar system, calling for recognition of Muslim observances such as Ramadan in the structuring of school and work holidays.

His latest comments have reignited discussions about religious inclusivity in Nigeria’s governance and whether adjustments to work schedules could ease long-standing tensions between Christian and Muslim communities.