The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has defended the decision by some northern state governments to close primary and secondary schools during Ramadan, saying it prioritises students’ well-being amid extreme heat conditions.
SCSN also urged Zamfara, Sokoto, Jigawa, and other states to adopt similar measures.
In a statement by its Secretary-General, Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, SCSN dismissed opposition from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and some non-governmental organisations, insisting that state governments have full authority to determine school schedules.
According to the council, the temporary closure would not affect academic activities, as lost time would be compensated for by adjusting the long vacation.
‘This decision ensures continuous learning while preventing students from remaining idle for extended periods. It was carefully reviewed by the respective Ministries of Education and widely welcomed by parents’, the statement read.
It described threats of legal or industrial action over the school closure as unnecessary and an affront to state governments’ authority.
‘It is baffling that CAN, which remained silent when prolonged ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) strikes disrupted entire academic sessions, is now opposing a temporary, structured adjustment of just 25 school days’, the council added.
Citing the Education Law of 1 January 1964, SCSN stressed that governors have the exclusive right to set school holidays, except in Kogi State, where the law does not apply.
The council insisted that CAN is not a stakeholder in northern states’ education policies, saying no state government is obligated to seek approval from external groups before making decisions.
SCSN commended the affected state governments for their foresight in prioritising students’ welfare and urged other northern states to implement similar policies.
It also called on all stakeholders to respect state governments’ authority and avoid interfering in educational matters that directly impact students and their families.
In an earlier statement, CAN had challenged the closure of the schools, which effected an estimated 11.5 million in Bauchi, Katsina, Kano and Kebbi states, saying that, apart from education being a fundamental right and the bedrock of progress, nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where Islam is central and Ramadan deeply revered, do not shut down schools for the entire fasting period.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh said: ‘Globally, nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — where Islam is central and Ramadan deeply revered — do not shut down schools for the entire fasting period. Instead, they adapt schedules, shortening hours or offering flexibility, to balance education with religious practice. If these Islamic heartlands can maintain this equilibrium, Nigeria’s northern states should strive for similar pragmatism. A month-long closure, or five weeks in Bauchi’s case, is excessive and departs from sensible precedent.
