By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has defended the decision of some northern state governmen...
By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has defended the decision of some northern state governments to close primary and secondary schools during Ramadan, stating that the move prioritizes students’ well-being amid the ongoing extreme heat.
The council also encouraged other states, including Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa, to adopt similar measures in the interest of public health and safety.
In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, SCSN dismissed criticisms from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and some non-governmental organizations (NGOs), insisting that state governments have full authority to determine school calendars.
According to the council, the temporary closure will not disrupt the academic calendar, as any lost time will be recovered through adjustments to the long vacation.
“This decision ensures continuous learning while preventing students from being exposed to harsh weather conditions. It was carefully reviewed by the respective Ministries of Education and was widely welcomed by parents,” the statement read.
The council described threats of legal action or industrial strikes over the closure as unnecessary and disrespectful to the authority of state governments.
“It is baffling that CAN, which remained silent during prolonged ASUU strikes that crippled entire academic sessions, is now opposing a well-structured, temporary adjustment of just 25 school days,” SCSN added.
Citing the Education Law of January 1, 1964, the council emphasized that governors have the exclusive authority to set school holidays — except in Kogi State, where the law does not apply.
SCSN further argued that CAN is not a stakeholder in education policymaking in northern states and stressed that no state government is obligated to seek approval from external religious groups before making decisions affecting schools.
The council commended the affected state governments for their foresight in prioritizing students’ welfare and urged other northern states to follow suit.
It also called on all stakeholders to respect the authority of state governments and refrain from interfering in educational decisions that directly impact students and their families.
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