Christian Association of Nigeria Takes Legal Stand Against School Closures During Ramadan

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has raised concerns over the lack of broad consultation prior to directives mandating the closure of all schools, both public and private, during the Ramadan fast in four states in the North.

CAN said despite the claims of stakeholder involvement, its leadership were not engaged in Bauchi, Katsina, Kano and Kebbi, where the directives were given, raising “serious issues of equity, educational continuity, and the welfare of all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs”.

Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the CAN President, said in a statement on Sunday that policies impacting diverse populations of Muslims, Christians, and others “demand transparent, inclusive dialogue” with parents, educators, religious leaders, and school proprietors.

According to the statement, such prolonged breaks from nursery to tertiary institutions risk deepening the out-of-school children crisis plaguing Bauchi, Katsina, Kano and Kebbi, which are already having alarming rates of averaging 44%, judging by recent data, far exceeding the national average.

“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,” the statement stressed.

“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,” it insisted.

CAN said that as it called for calm from residents across the states in context, irrespective of religion, it “cannot overlook the potential violation of the rights of students and families who do not observe Ramadan, nor the dangerous signal this sends for equitable governance”.

Archbishop Okoh also requested that Governors Bala Mohammed, Dikko Umar Radda, Abba Kabir Yusuf, and Nasir Idris open channels of dialogue with key stakeholders—religious bodies, school owners, parents, and civil society—to reassess these directives and pursue inclusive solutions.

“Should these rights face further jeopardy or dialogue fail to deliver justice, CAN is prepared to seek legal recourse. We will pursue restraining orders through the courts to safeguard the constitutional rights to education and freedom of conscience,” he vowed.

“Our pursuit of peace does not diminish our commitment to justice,” he added.