The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued an ultimatum to the governors of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi states, demanding the reversal of their decision to close schools for five weeks during the holy month of Ramadan. The student body gave the governors 72 hours to revoke the policy, or risk nationwide protests.
In a statement released on Monday by NANS National Public Relations Officer, Samson Adeyemi, the association condemned the closure, labeling it an infringement on students’ right to uninterrupted education. Adeyemi emphasized that the move would hinder academic progress and discriminate against non-Muslim students, while setting a harmful precedent for the Nigerian education sector.
NANS asserted that the policy undermines the right of all Nigerian students regardless of their religious beliefs to continuous education. “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS National Body) vehemently condemns the recent directive by the governors of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi states to close schools during the holy month of Ramadan,” said Adeyemi.
He continued, “This policy is not only unjust but also a blatant infringement on the fundamental rights of students to receive uninterrupted education. Closing schools for an extended period during Ramadan disrupts learning, targets non-Muslim students unfairly, and subjects them to undue discrimination.”
Adeyemi pointed out that the Nigerian constitution and international treaties, to which the country is a signatory, guarantee the right to education for all citizens. He argued that closing schools for Ramadan contravenes these principles, prioritizing religious observances over students’ educational rights.
NANS has set a 72-hour deadline for the governors to reverse the decision, threatening legal action and nationwide protests if the policy is not rescinded. “Failure to comply will result in nationwide protests and legal actions to protect the rights of Nigerian students,” Adeyemi warned.
The student association also called on various stakeholders, including parents, educators, and civil society organizations, to join them in advocating for the protection of students’ rights. Adeyemi urged the need to ensure that education remains a priority for all students, irrespective of their religious backgrounds.
This controversy follows similar concerns raised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which has also threatened legal action against the four governors. CAN condemned the school closures as discriminatory and warned of the negative impact it would have on the educational crisis in the affected states, which already account for 44% of Nigeria’s out-of-school children.
Both NANS and CAN have vowed to take action unless the policy is reversed, citing its potential to exacerbate the already fragile educational system in the affected northern states.
