Four states of the North – Bauchi, Katsina, Kano and Kebbi – have shuttered their respective school system for the 2025 Ramadan fast that commenced on March 1. The policy is ostensibly to ease the stress of the fasting period on Muslim faithful resident in those states.

But the move has ignited controversy regarding its implication for non-Muslim residents, and eventual effect on education standard in affected states particularly, and the northern region in general.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) deplored the closure of public and private schools in the four states and criticised lack of inclusivity in the process that produced the decision, not minding how it also affects non-Muslim students. CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, complained in a statement that the closure of schools disrupted academic calendars and threatened the education of many students.

“These states already face alarming rates of out-of-school children averaging 44 percent, far exceeding the national average. The lack of broad consultation prior to these directives is troubling,” he said.

The apex Christian body argued that education, being a fundamental right, the measure by the four states infringed that right. “The closure of schools across these states, ranging from nursery to tertiary level, for an extended period disrupts academic schedules and threatens the educational advancement of millions of students,” Okoh stated, adding that the decision-making process lacked transparency and failed to involve broad consultations with stakeholders, including Christian leaders, educators and parents. “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,” he said. “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 lexibility, to balance education with religious practice. A month-long closure, or five weeks in Bauchi’s case, is excessive and departs from sensible precedent,” he further noted, inter alia.

Another body, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), faulted the policy and argued that school closure for Ramadan reinforced fears that Sharia law in affected states makes no distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims. The forum, in a statement by its national spokesman, Luka Binniyat, likened the measure to Boko Haram’s anti-Western education ideology and urged haste towards restructuring the country as would protect the diversity of rights and values of citizens. It also argued that the measure by the four states infringed presumed constitutional secularity of Nigeria. Some have counter-argued, however, that Nigeria isn’t secular but multi-religious.

But another group defended the school closure policy and tackled CAN, in particular, for its criticism. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) accused the Christian body of exhibiting double standard and meddling in matters that are none of its business. MURIC Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, accused CAN of playing a meddlesome interloper in the affairs of Nigerian Muslims. “Firstly, Ramadan is a completely Muslim issue. It involves no other faith. CAN should stay out of it,” he said in a statement, adding: “Secondly, Muslims are in overwhelming majority in those four states and the state governments, in a democratic country like Nigeria, should not deny the majority Muslims what they wish. Furthermore, those four states have given the Muslim majority what they desire most based on the principle of ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’.”

He further accused CAN of being quick to defend the rights of Christian minorities in the North while allegedly ignoring the rights of Muslim majorities elsewhere.

Religion is a deeply sensitive issue and extreme caution is needed in taking pitches on matters affecting the faith of others. But if this holds true for objectors to the school closure, it no less does for its promoters, especially governments of affected states that should have widely pre-consulted and gotten all on board since the policy affects Moslems and non-Moslems alike.

Interfaith harmony dictates that one is mindful of the sensitivity of the other and should go the extra mile to make room for that sensitivity. Christian faithful only last Wednesday commenced the Lenten season, and it would be grossly errant if governments of predominantly Christian states were to shut down respective school system for the 40-day duration of that season just to serve the interest of their majorities. Jeremy Bentham’s doctrine of ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’ that MURIC referenced has to do with unintended unhappiness of the smaller number, not their deliberate affliction with unhappiness as the policy in focus entails.

Our view is that religion is strictly personal, whereas education belongs in the commonwealth. Besides, education is the most strategic investment in the future and should never be reduced to opportunistic shopping card for seasonal political capital.

If state governors concerned aren’t keen on withdrawing the controversial policy, they should do the needful to get the buy-in of all stakeholders and unveil plans to recover the time that will be lost by students during the Ramadan school closure. (The Nation Editorial)