Ramadan school closure: Catholic Bishops urge FG to intervene

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has urged the federal government to step in regarding the recent announcement by some northern state governors to shut down schools for a period of five weeks during Ramadan.

This position was conveyed through a statement signed by Lazarus Ugorji, the Archbishop of Owerri and CBCN President, along with Donatus Ogun, the Bishop of Uromi and CBCN Secretary, as reported by BusinessDay.

The bishops voiced serious concerns over the school closure directive in several northern states for the duration of the Ramadan fast.

“We are particularly concerned about the impact of this decision on the already alarming rate of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria.”

Citing UNESCO data, the bishops noted that Nigeria currently has the largest population of out-of-school children globally, with over 10 million children not enrolled in school. They warned that this latest directive will worsen the situation and hinder ongoing efforts to enhance educational outcomes in the region.

“We urge the governors of the affected states to reconsider this decision and explore alternative arrangements that respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens. We also call on the federal government to intervene and ensure that the rights of all Nigerians, regardless of their faith or background are protected,” the statement read.

The Catholic bishops highlighted that their concern stems from Nigeria’s status as a secular state, noting that the school closure decision impacts not only public schools but also private schools owned by Christian organizations. They described this as an infringement on the rights of affected citizens and a disruption to the uninterrupted education the federal government promotes.

“This decision which affects not only Muslim students but also Christian-owned schools raises serious questions about the secular nature of our country and the rights of all citizens.”

They cited Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution, which states: “The government of the federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.” They emphasized that this provision affirms Nigeria’s secular character and guarantees all citizens the freedom to practice their religion without interference.

“Furthermore, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 26, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Article 13 emphasise the right of education as a fundamental human right. The closure of schools for an extended period undermines this right and jeopardizes the education future of millions of Nigerian children,” the bishops said.

Therefore, the bishops called on Nigerian leaders to prioritize the education and welfare of all Nigerian children, irrespective of their religious beliefs, and to work towards building a fairer and more inclusive society.