Christian leaders decried a decision by Muslim governors of four northern states in Nigeria to close all schools for five weeks for Ramadan.
The decision to close all public and private schools in Bauchi, Katsina, Kano and Kebbi states further erodes an already hobbled educational system and threatens national unity, the Christian leaders said. Archbishop Daniel Okoh, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said in a press statement that CAN views with grave concern the closure of all schools for up to five weeks to observe the Ramadan fast from late February to early April.
“CAN is dedicated to promoting harmony across faiths, but we 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,” Okoh said. “Policies impacting diverse populations – Muslims, Christians and others – demand transparent, inclusive dialogue with parents, educators, religious leaders, and school proprietors. The absence of such engagement erodes trust and unity in our pluralistic society.”
Even countries such as 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, he noted.
“Instead, they adapt schedules, shortening hours or offering flexibility, to balance education with religious practice,” he said. “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.”
CAN 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, he said.
“The education of our children and the unity of our states are at stake. Should these rights face further jeopardy or dialogue fail to deliver justice, CAN is prepared to seek legal recourse,” including obtaining restraining orders to safeguard the constitutional rights to education and freedom of conscience, he said.
“Our pursuit of peace does not diminish our commitment to justice,” Okoh said. “Let us unite as Nigerians to forge a society where faith and progress harmonize, where no child’s education is compromised, and where every community is valued. We urge the governors to reconsider these policies in the spirit of fairness and national cohesion.”
The four states closing all schools for Ramadan already face alarming rates of out-of-school children, averaging 44 percent, far exceeding the national average, he said, adding that such prolonged breaks risk deepening this crisis, undermining efforts to ensure access to quality education for all.
The apparent lack of broad consultation in Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi prior to the directives was troubling, as CAN leadership in those states were not consulted despite claims of stakeholder involvement, Okoh said.
In the directives, Kebbi state ordered the closure of all schools, including Christian-owned schools, from March 1 to April 7.
“The closure of schools is to enable Muslims to observe fasting, engage in prayers, and other religious duties associated with Ramadan,” a spokesman in the Kebbi state governor’ office, Ahmed Idris, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “The state government urges all educational to adhere strictly to this directive or be sanctioned.”
In Kano state, the government closed all schools from Feb. 28 to April 6.
“All educational institutions must comply with the closure order” and appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against defaulting schools, Balarabe Kiru, director of Public Enlightenment of the Kano State Ministry of Education, said in a press statement.
Bauchi state closed schools from March 1 to April 5.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) also expressed concern, saying the closures raised serious questions about Nigeria’s secular status and rights of all citizens.
The closures undermine rights and jeopardize the education and future of millions of Nigerian children, said the Rev. Lucius Ugorji and the Rev. Donatus A. Ogun, president and secretary respectively of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, in a press statement.
“As stated in Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution, ‘The government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as state religion,’” they said. “This provision underscores the secular nature of our country and guarantees the freedom of all citizens to practice their faith without hindrance.”
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 26) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 13) state the right to education as a fundamental human right, they said.
“The closure of schools for an extended period undermines this right and jeopardizes the education and future of millions of Nigerian children,” the church leaders said. “We are particularly concerned about the impact of this decision on the already alarming rate of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria. According to UNESCO, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, with over 10 million children not attending school. This decision will only exacerbate this crisis and undermine efforts to improve education outcomes in the region.”
They urged the state governors to reconsider the decision and explore alternative arrangements that respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens.
“We pray that our leaders will prioritize the education and well-being of all Nigerian children, regardless of their faith or background, and work towards creating a more just and equitable society for all,” the leaders said.
Nigeria ranked seventh on the 2025 WWL list of the 50 worst countries for Christians.
