Ramadan: Shariah Council Urges More Northern States to Close Schools

The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria has called on more northern states to temporarily shut schools during Ramadan to allow Muslim students focus on fasting and religious activities.

The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has supported the decision by several northern state governments to close primary and secondary schools during Ramadan. They emphasized that this action prioritizes student welfare due to the intense heat conditions.

The council urged states such as Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa to adopt similar actions, stating that this temporary measure serves the best interests of students.

In a statement signed by Secretary-General Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, the SCSN rejected criticism from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and various NGOs. The organization affirmed that state governments possess the constitutional right to establish school calendars.

“The decision facilitates ongoing learning and prevents students from staying idle for long periods. It was thoroughly evaluated by the relevant Ministries of Education and received widespread approval from parents,” stated the announcement.

The council dismissed threats of legal or industrial action regarding the closures, describing them as unwarranted and disrespectful to state authorities.

“It is perplexing that CAN, which stayed silent during the extended ASUU strikes that disrupted entire academic sessions, is now against a temporary and organized adjustment of merely 25 school days,” the council added.

Referring to the Education Law of January 1, 1964, SCSN emphasized that governors possess the legal authority to establish school holidays. However, this law is not applicable in Kogi State.

The council also contended that CAN is not a direct stakeholder in northern education policies, and state governments are under no obligation to seek external approval for these decisions.

Praising state leaders for putting student well-being first, SCSN encouraged other northern states to make similar changes and appealed to stakeholders to honor government authority in educational issues.