The Supreme Council for Shari’a in Nigeria (SCSN) has thrown its weight behind the decision by some northern states to close primary and secondary schools during Ramadan, urging others like Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa to follow suit.
In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, the council defended the move, citing extreme heat conditions and students’ well-being as key reasons for the temporary closures. It dismissed objections from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and certain NGOs, asserting that state governments have full authority over school schedules.
“This decision ensures continuous learning while preventing students from staying idle for long periods. It was carefully reviewed by the respective Ministries of Education and widely welcomed by parents,” the statement read.
SCSN criticized threats of legal or industrial action, calling them unnecessary and an affront to state authority. The council also accused CAN of double standards, noting its silence during prolonged ASUU strikes but vocal opposition to a temporary 25-day adjustment for Ramadan.
Citing the 1964 Education Law, the council stressed that state governors have exclusive rights to set school holidays, except in Kogi State, where the law does not apply. It insisted that CAN is not a stakeholder in northern states’ education policies and that governments are not required to seek external approval for school-related decisions.
Commending the affected state governments for prioritizing students’ welfare, SCSN urged other northern states to adopt similar measures and called on all stakeholders to respect these decisions without interference.
