Christians in the 19 northern Nigeria states have condemned the closure of schools in the region during the ongoing Ramadan.
Muslims across the world commenced the annual Ramadan on Saturday March 1. It is one of the five pillars of Islam.
To ensure full participation, some states in the Muslim-dominated northern Nigeria shut down both public and private schools for five weeks that the fast will last.
Some of the states are Bauchi in the northwest and Kano, Katsina and Kebbi in northwest.
In a statement on Monday March 3, John Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, condemned the closure, describing it as a significant setback for education in the region.
Hayab argued that if religious considerations were to be applied consistently, schools should be shut during Christian Lenten season, which would result in over two months of lost schooling year.
The Lenten, which precedes Easter begins on Wednesday 5 March.
He also expressed concerns that the closure would negatively impact senior secondary students preparing for examinations and junior students sitting for junior secondary school examination in the affected states.
“We are worried about the school closure given the drawbacks in school life faced by children in most northern states triggered by rising insecurities, which have obstructed the education of our wards.
“The closure of schools can negatively impact senior secondary students who are preparing to sit for the exams organised by the Joint Matriculation Examination Board. The same also applies to junior students who sit for the Junior Secondary Schools exams.”
Hayab said some children under 14 might not be able to join the fast.
According to him, “The other anxiety is that some of the children asked to stay at home are under the age of 14 and, as such may not even be religiously mature enough to observe the fast.
“The recent Multidimensional Poverty index by the National Bureau for Statistics highlights the educational challenges in these states, with Bauchi at 54 per cent, Kebbi at 45 per cent, Katsina at 38 per cent, and Kano at 35 per cent of children lacking access to education.
The CAN chairman wondered why the states would close schools when schools in countries like Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirate remain open. According to him, decision to shut schools may not be in line with Islamic teachings but rather political.
“From a global perspective, CAN in the 19 northern states and FCT observe that in places such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, where Islam is the principal faith, even as we speak schools remain open during Ramadan, matching education with spiritual practice.
“On the strength of the above facts, the leadership of CAN 19 Northern States and the FCT views the move to close schools during Ramadan as misguided and admonishes the affected states that the best approach could be to our permit school administrators and teachers as well as students who are of age to observe the fast to have some time but not total closure as the current move could weaken the prospects of delivering quality education for all in the region.
“CAN in the 19 Northern States has consulted with prominent Islamic scholars and from their explanation we realise that the decisions of those Governors could just be political expediency and not backed by any Islamic teaching,” the statement said.
The association appealed to the governors of Northern Nigeria especially those who are championing this kind of ill advice ideas to stop presenting the northern region in bad light and make people to laugh at us as if we are unserious people.”
Hayab also urged Christians in the region to remain calm and law-abiding and challenge stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to address the issue amicably.
Christians are a significant minority in some northern states of Nigeria.
The estimated population of Muslims and Christian populations in 19 northern states
North East
Adanawa Christians 60% Muslims 40%
Taraba Christians 75% Muslims 25%
Gombe Christians 45% Muslims 55%
Borno Christians 30% Muslims 70%
Bauchi Christians 30% Muslims 70%
Yobe Christians 25% Muslims 75%
North West
Benue Christians 95% Muslims 5%
Plateau Christians 90% Muslims 10%
Nasarawa Christians 70% Muslims 10% Traditional 20%
Kogi Christians 60% Muslims 40%
Kwara Christians 40% Muslims 60%
Niger Christians 40% Muslims 30% Traditional 30%
North West
Kano Christians 25% Muslims 75%
Jigawa Christians 15% Muslims 85%
Katsina Christians 30% Muslims 70%
Sokoto Christians 10% Muslims 90%
Zamfara Christians 20% Muslims 80%
Kebbi Christians 30% Muslims 60% Traditional 10%
Kaduna Christians 55% Muslims 45%
Source: Unidentified