Hijab: Group voices concern over sack of 2 Muslim nurses
Muslim Affairs (MPAC) expressed concern over the escalation of the case of the two victims of discrimination at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi Lagos (NOHIL) which led to last Wednesday’s termination of employment of the two victims of discrimination by the management of NOHIL.
In the last few weeks, two nursing staff of the hospital, Mrs Fasilat Olayinka Lawal and Miss Sekinat Sanusi, both wearing shoulder length hijab, were alleged to have been subjected to “cruel and degrading” treatments by some of the senior nurses of the hospitalsimply because of their choice to wear the hijab at work.
A statement issued by MPAC Executive Chairman Disu Kamor said by its latest action, NOHIL and the hospital management continued Public Centre
has to show aggression against the victims and “unrestrained and unaccountable” hostility towards the Islamic faith.
The statement reads in part, “The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) prescribes a standard uniform for all nurses in Nigeria and in its circular of 11th February, 2002 (reference number N&MCN/CMF/721/1/3), it unambiguously specifies that ‘female nurses’ may ‘wear either a Nurse cap or a shoulder length hyjab’.
“The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria is a parastatal of the Federal Government of Nigeria established by Act Cap. No143 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and the Council is the only regulatory body for all cadres of Nurses and Midwives in Nigeria.
“As law-abiding citizens that were working hard and doing a good job, the victims had approached the court to secure their rights, and to obtain injunction against further actions by the management of the NOHIL. It is therefore shocking that NOHIL’s reaction to these sisters positive example is to flagrantly disregard the court’s explicit order and continue to demonstrate hostility and tyranny.
“The dismissive attitude of the National Orthopedic Hospital Igbobi towards our judiciary system illustrates once again the unhealthy culture within the hierarchy of the hospital management and their resolve to scandalize the court.”
MPAC said the sisters would continue to demand justice through lawful means, stressing that that the decision to sack victims of discrimination was not only oppressive towards the victims, but was also another stain on the history of NOHIL.
While stressing that the sack strengthened the resolve of the Muslim community to stand with them, the group noted that tyranny of employers, public and private, highlighted the need for lawmakers to do the right things and make laws that would criminalise discrimination on the basis of religions.