* Demands fairness in appointments, employment, career progression
Muslim leaders under the aegis of Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) have called on the Lagos State Government to ensure justice and fairness in appointments, employment, career progression and other areas of governance.
The group also renewed its demand for the application of Shari’ah to Muslim family matters in Lagos and an end to discrimination against Muslim women and girls wearing hijab.
The demands were made on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, when the Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, and his entourage met Muslim leaders at the TMC Daw’ah Centre, Ijesha Bus Stop, Lagos.
The meeting brought together leaders of Muslim organisations, scholars, Imams and community leaders under the umbrella of the CIO, an umbrella platform comprising Muslim organisations, central mosques, faith-based groups and professional bodies.
‘Is it just?’, CIO asks
Presenting the CIO’s position in a statement titled “A CALL TO JUSTICE,” the General Secretary of the organisation, Sheikh Luqman Balogun, urged Dr. Hamzat to make justice a guiding principle if elected governor of Lagos State in 2027.
Muslim News gathered that the CIO’s central question for the APC governorship candidate was, “Is This Just?”, urging Dr Hamzat to make it a guiding principle whenever he makes decisions on appointments, opportunities and representation in the state.
Quoting Qur’an 5:8, the CIO General Secretary reminded Dr. Hamzat and members of his entourage, including his running mate, Princess Damilola Sonayon-James, and the Director-General of his campaign council, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, among others, of the instruction: “Be just; it is closest to piety.”
Engr. Balogun said Muslims had not abandoned Dr. Hamzat and had contributed significantly to the electoral success of the APC in previous elections, adding that the community expected fairness and a sense of belonging in return.
He noted that appointments were often described as political rather than religious, but urged the APC candidate to apply the same test of justice to such decisions.
“Even when you say appointments have no religious bearing and are purely political, ask yourself, ‘Is this Just!’” he said.
The CIO Secretary General raised concerns about career progression in the Lagos State Civil Service, recruitment, vacancies and the selection of men and women for opportunities, claiming that Muslims were sometimes relegated.
He also questioned situations where Muslims seeking employment were reportedly told they were “not brilliant enough”, asking whether such treatment was just.
According to him, concerns had also been raised over promotion examinations and postings involving senior civil servants, with allegations that competent Muslim officials were sometimes pushed behind or labelled negatively.
Engr. Balogun urged Dr. Hamzat to ensure that qualified Muslims who had been politically groomed and had the competence to serve were given fair consideration in key appointments.
He said the organisation could raise many other issues, but added that its elders had taught its members to say little while trusting wise minds to understand the message.
Expressing confidence in Dr. Hamzat’s intelligence and ability, Engr. Balogun urged him to “take your steps with justice in mind.”
He also cited Allah’s instruction to Prophet Dawud, saying, “Oh Dawud, we have made you a leader over the people; judge between people with justice.”
‘Is it just to appoint a Pastor to represent Muslims?’
The question, “Is it just?”, gained greater prominence during the intervention of the Chairman of the CIO’s Ulama Forum, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, who challenged the practice of appointing people who merely bear Muslim names to positions supposedly reserved to represent Muslim interests.
“Someone who bears a Muslim name and is a Deacon at the Redeemed, and you appoint that person to represent Islam, is that just?” he asked.
He also questioned the appointment of people with Muslim names who practise traditional religion or are idol worshippers to represent Muslims.
“Another person who bears the name Tiamiyu but is an Onisese (traditional or idol worshipper), and you ask him to represent the Muslim slot, is it just?” he asked.
The respected scholar said Muslims in the state were not asking for undue advantage but for fairness, justice and a sense of belonging.
Sheikh Ahmad said Muslims and Christians shared Lagos and should move beyond mere tolerance to genuine accommodation, stressing that “justice is the harbinger of peace.”
He said although Muslims had supported successive governments, their experience had “not been so palatable”, hence the need for greater fairness in governance.
The scholar also clarified that Muslims were not demanding a Muslim-Muslim ticket in Lagos, explaining that such an arrangement adopted by the ruling APC at the national level was a political strategy and not a demand by the Muslim community.
Rather, he called for balanced representation in government appointments, with qualified Muslims given equitable consideration.
Don’t disregard political commitments to Muslims: Dr Shuaib
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the CIO, Dr Abdullahi Shuaib, narrowed the call for justice to the issue of political commitments and the relationship between Muslim leaders and government.
Dr. Shuaib said the Shari’ah requires believers to honour their covenants and fulfil their commitments, stressing that political agreements should not be made with one party only to be disregarded later.
He said Muslim leaders had fulfilled their part of previous political arrangements by mobilising their followers to support the APC, contributing to the party’s victories during the first and second terms of the Lagos State Government and the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, he pointed out that the fundamental expectations of the Muslim community were not fulfilled despite its role in mobilising support.
According to him, the situation became a source of embarrassment for Muslim leaders who had mobilised their followers to support the politicians but could not point to tangible benefits from the relationship.
“We were the ones who brought them to the politicians. They followed our instructions, but what did they do for us in return? After eight years, we got nothing. We got zero,” he said.
Dr. Shuaib, however, urged Muslims to forgive the shortcomings of the past and support Dr. Hamzat, describing the Deputy Governor as “our own” and expressing confidence in his qualifications, experience and record in public service.
The CIO Coordinator urged Dr. Hamzat to become a transformative governor who would be just to all residents, irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
He also reminded Dr. Hamzat of the responsibility that comes with being a Muslim in public office, urging him to demonstrate Islamic values through fairness in the distribution of appointments, employment, contracts, opportunities and other government resources.
“You are a symbol of Islam, whether we like it or not,” Dr. Shuaib said, urging Hamzat to ensure justice in governance “so that people can see the Islam in you through the establishment of justice in your government.”
He consequently called on Muslims to support and vote for Dr. Hamzat in the 2027 election, describing him as a leader who belongs to the Muslim community and to whom the community also belongs.
Muslims renew demand for Shari’ah
The Grand Mufti of the organisation and one of the prominent voices at the meeting, Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi’i, called for regular and meaningful engagement between the government and religious leaders.
Sheikh Shafi’i cited the administration of former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola as an example of inclusive governance, saying religious leaders were involved in policy discussions and helped to sensitise their communities.
He urged the government to establish regular engagement platforms with religious leaders, declaring that “Inclusivity is non-negotiable.”
The Grand Mufti also renewed the Muslim community’s demand for the application of Sharia to Muslim family matters in Lagos, particularly marriage, divorce and family disputes.
He stressed that the demand was not for Islamic law to be imposed on non-Muslims, but for Muslims who voluntarily choose it to have access to a faith-based avenue within the constitutional and legal framework.
Sheikh Shafi’i also raised concerns about alleged discrimination against women and girls wearing hijab, particularly during official processes.
He stated that some Muslim women and secondary school girls had been forced to remove their hijab in schools, during data capture exercises and other government-related processes.
“We’re with you and we want you to come out victorious, but you owe us fairness in return,” he told Dr Hamzat.
Muslim women demand greater representation
The Ameerah Al-Mu’minaat, Lagos State, Hajia Balqis Abdullah, called for greater representation of qualified Muslim women in government in the next administration.
She said Muslim women included PhD holders, directors and senior officers across ministries and agencies, but were still inadequately represented at senior levels.
Hajia Abdullah urged Dr Hamzat to pay greater attention to Muslim women’s affairs and ensure that qualified women had opportunities to rise to positions such as Permanent Secretary.
“We’re taxpayers, we’re voters. In fact, most votes come from women. No women, no vote. So give us what we want,” she said.
We’ll do more to ensure equal representation in Lagos: Hamzat
Responding to the demands, Dr Hamzat thanked the Muslim leaders for the engagement while conveying the greetings of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the gathering.
The Deputy Governor said he had listened carefully to the concerns raised and acknowledged the responsibility of government to ensure fairness and a sense of belonging.
Dr Hamzat said appointments in the Lagos State Government were not guided by religious prejudice, noting that the oath of office required public officials to serve without discrimination based on background or religion.
He said an appreciable number of Muslim women, including hijab-wearing women, were already serving as directors in the Lagos State Civil Service.
On the appointment of Permanent Secretaries, Dr Hamzat said the process was independent of political interference, adding that qualified candidates were allowed to participate in rigorous screening and examinations. He said the process had replaced the old system based on “who you know.”
“Regarding equal representation, we’re trying our best possible and we’ll continue to do more,” Dr Hamzat said.
On the demand for Shari’ah, he said senior lawyers had been assembled to examine the legal issues involved and make recommendations.
He explained that judges could not be appointed by the state government because of the principle of judicial independence, adding that the committee would conclude its work.
Hamzat asks Muslims to report hijab violations
Responding to concerns about hijab discrimination, Dr Hamzat urged Muslims to report specific cases to the appropriate authorities.
He urged residents not to take the law into their own hands, stressing that officials who violate citizens’ rights, particularly over hijab following the Supreme Court judgment, should face appropriate sanctions to serve as a deterrent.
The APC governorship candidate also agreed that there should be closer engagement between the government and religious leaders, noting that they were close to the grassroots and enjoyed the trust of their communities.
“If cooperation is falling short, we’ll fix it now,” he said.
He called for unity among the people of the state, stressing that Lagos could not afford division or failed governance.
“Lagos is not a state that can be experimented with. The people of Lagos are the strongest when they stand together. So, we’re not planning to fail,” Dr Hamzat said.
Muslim leaders attend meeting
Other CIO leaders who spoke at the meeting included Chief Imam of Ayolo Central Mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Uthman Ayolo; National Missioner, Nawair-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdulMajeed Ayinla; First Amir of The Muslim Congress (TMC), Alhaji Abdur-Razaq Abdussalam Awayewaserere; former Amir of The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos State, Alhaji Qasim Badrudeen and the Missioner at Sa’adatul Abadiyya Organisation, Sheikh Dr Abdullah Araokanmi, among others.
Other members of the CIO at the meeting included the President of the Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals, Prof. Tajudeen Yusuf; Congregation Representative on the Governing Council, Prof. Musa Obalola; Secretary-General of TMC, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan Adesina; and Amir, MSSN Lagos State, Dr Yusuf Ajibola Salami, among others.
The meeting ended with a call for continued dialogue, justice, fairness and inclusive governance, as the Muslim leaders urged Hamzat to ensure that the concerns raised were reflected in his administration if elected governor in 2027.
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