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Ramadan: Kebbi, Bauchi, Kano counter CAN, say schools stay closed
The Kebbi, Bauchi and Kano State governments have reaffirmed that the holiday granted to both primary and secondary schools in their states for Ramadan fast will not be reconsidered, despite concerns raised by the Christian Association of Nigeria.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Monday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State governor, Ahmed Idris, stated that the decision was made after consulting all relevant stakeholders, including religious leaders and parents.
“We are not reversing the decision. The closure of the schools was a result of meetings with all relevant stakeholders, including religious leaders, parents, and others. The leadership of CAN and the Muslim community were carried along before the decision was reached,” Idris said.
He further explained that the closure would only affect a maximum of two weeks from the initial academic calendar, emphasising that it would not disrupt school activities.
“Our normal school calendar already factored in closures during the fasting period. So, the issue of disrupting the academic calendar does not arise,” he added.
Similarly, the Kano State Director of Public Enlightenment in the state’s Ministry of Education, Balarabe Kiru, said there is no reason why the state government would reverse the directive as the decision to close the schools was taken after a meeting with all relevant stakeholders.
“There was a stakeholders’ meeting at the federal level during which the Christian Association of Nigeria was fully represented.
“More so, members of the State Executive Council have also agreed on the academic calendar. So there is no way we can reverse the directive. There is no going back on the decision so far taken with the knowledge and agreement of all stakeholders and the State Executive Council,” Kiru said.
Also speaking with The PUNCH on Monday, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Lawal Zayam, said the decision to close schools would not be reviewed.
According to him, the holiday was captured in the 2024/2025 academic calendar of the state long at the beginning of the session.
Zayam said, “We have not done anything extraordinary. Before we drafted the 2024/2025 session calendar, the stakeholders’ input was considered.
“The stakeholders were the ones who propel this solution, especially the private school owners whose state chairman is a Christian.
“This has nothing to do with our academic calendar because, after the resumption, the students will have two weeks of studies to complete their second term before moving on to the third term.”
Stressing that all relevant stakeholders were carried along, the commissioner added, “We equally consulted other states, which we have exchanged programmes with before a memo was raised for the calendar and got approved by the governor.”
However, CAN in the 19 northern states and Abuja, on Monday, condemned the school closures in Kebbi and other Shariah-practicing states, including Bauchi, Katsina, and Kano, where schools have been shut for five weeks.
In a statement issued in Kaduna, Northern CAN Chairman, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, expressed concern that the closures would negatively impact students preparing for crucial examinations, including the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Junior Secondary School exams.
“We are worried about these closures, especially considering the setbacks already faced by students in most northern states due to rising insecurity. The decision could further hinder educational progress,” Hayab said.
He also noted that many of the children affected by the closures are under 14 years old and may not yet be religiously mature enough to observe fasting.
“Additionally, the recent Multidimensional Poverty Index by the National Bureau of Statistics highlights the educational challenges in these states, with Bauchi at 54%, Kebbi at 45%, Katsina at 38%, and Kano at 35% of children lacking access to education,” he added.
Hayab pointed out that even in predominantly Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, schools remain open during Ramadan, urging northern governors to adopt a similar approach.
“Instead of shutting down schools, a better approach would be to reduce school hours, allowing students and teachers time to observe fasting without compromising education. We have consulted Islamic scholars, and they confirmed that these school closures are more about political expediency than religious necessity,” he argued.
Consequently, CAN called on northern governors to reconsider their stance and prioritise education.
“CAN Northern Nigeria, therefore, wishes to appeal to governors of northern Nigeria, especially those who are championing this kind of ill-advised idea, to stop presenting our region in a bad light and make people laugh at us as if we are unserious people.
“As a peace-loving organisation, CAN call on the people to remain calm and law-abiding and challenge stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to address the matter amicably.
“As peace-loving people, CAN in the 19 northern states and Abuja in solidarity with the statement released by the National President of CAN yesterday on this subject matter are calling on the people to remain calm and law-abiding and challenge stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to address the matter most amicably,” Hayab added.
Meanwhile, Yobe State has opted against school closures for Ramadan.
Although the state’s Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education has yet to make an official statement, a visit to Bukar Ali El-Kanemi Primary School in Damaturu revealed that classes were ongoing on Monday.
The proprietor of Sarki Musa Memorial Academy, Prof. Musa Tukur, confirmed that school hours had been adjusted to close at noon instead of 1:30 pm to accommodate fasting students, while Quranic classes were temporarily suspended.
Also, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, on Monday, approved the reduction of official working hours for the state civil servants in view of the Ramadan fasting.
The state’s Commissione for, Ministry for Establishment, Pension and Training, Awwal Manu Dogondaji, announced this in a statement on Monday.
The commissioner said: “The newly approved hours for the state civil servants from Monday to Thursday is now from 8a.m. to 1p.m while Friday is from 8a.m. to 12p.m.”
He added that the normal working hours would resume at the end of Ramadan period.
Manu Dogondaji urged people to remain steadfast in prayer for prevailing peace and stability in the state and Nigeria at large.
Credit: PUNCH
…conceals Body Under Bed
A young woman allegedly poisoned her boyfriend to d3ath for cheating on her in Iyo Polo community, Marine Base, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
It was gathered that after k!lling the deceased, she hid his body under the bed inside his room for three days.
According to local reports, residents of the area became suspicious after noticing a foul odor emanating from the victim’s residence.
Concerned neighbors attempted to reach the deceased but received no response.
Their suspicions grew when they observed the suspect acting strangely and refusing entry into the apartment.
Upon notifying law enforcement, officers arrived at the scene and forced their way into the room, where they discovered the decomposing body of the victim.
The suspect was immediately arrested and taken into police custody for further investigation.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the motive behind the alleged m8rder.
However, preliminary findings suggest that the incident may have stemmed from a domestic dispute.
A group of protesters have converged on the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja, calling for the suspension of Professor Abayomi Fasina as Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), to allow proper investigation into sexual harassment allegation.
Protesters armed with placards-bearing slogans such as ‘Ekiti Deserves Better’ and ‘Protect Our Women,’ argued that the Vice-Chancellor cannot remain in office while facing investigation for sexual harassment allegations.
The embattled VC has been under investigations over allegations made in a leaked voice note regarding a sexual harassment case against one of his married subordinates.
Speaking to journalists after submitting a petition to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the leader of the protesters under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations Against Corruption, Victor Adetola, said suspending the VC would give room for thorough investigations into the matter.
Adetola said: “We have looked at the developing story that has been going on in that university as an organisation that is fronting for the welfare of Nigerian students and the community or the educational community generally.
“The issue will be festering if there is no thorough investigation, and we need that place to be sanitised. Honestly, currently there is a disciplinary action investigation that is going on that was first given a three-week ultimatum.
“After that, they requested for another three weeks ultimatum, even inclusive of the governing council. And for the past six months, nothing has been done. We see that a lot of undiagnosed, a lot of corruption has been festering.
“In fact, one of the most critical issues happening is the sexual harassment that has happened to one of the married assistant directors in that school.
“Specifically, it’s necessary that the leader of the university steps down first, or the governing council relieves him of that position first, so that independent investigation can be carried out on all the petitions that we have written.”
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has distanced itself from the purported appointment by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu as the acting Chief Judge of Imo State.
The NJC, in a statement by its Deputy Director (Information), Mrs. Kemi Ogendengbe said it was yet to consider a request by Uzodinma to appoint Justice Nzeukwu, who is currently number four in the hierarchy of judges’ seniority in Imo State High Court.
The statement reads: “The attention of the council has been drawn to the news making rounds that the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, had purportedly appointed Hon. Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu, who is number four in the hierarchy of judges seniority in Imo State High Court, as the acting Chief Judge of the state, in view of the recent disciplinary action taken against the erstwhile Chief Judge of the state.
“The National Judicial Council, by this press release, wants to clarify to the public that the Governor of Imo State had earlier written to the council requesting for its approval to appoint Hon. Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu, who is number four in the hierarchy of seniority as acting Chief Judge of the state.
“The governor in his said correspondence to the council, gave reasons why in his own view, the three most senior judges are not appointable.
“The council is informing the public that the said letter is yet to be considered, as deliberation on the request is slated for the next council meeting, which is scheduled to hold on 29th and 30th April, 2025.
“The council is therefore, by this press release, informing the public that the governor’s request is yet to be considered by the council.
“The council has not given approval to the governor for the appointment of the acting Chief Judge.
“The council is not a party to the process of the purported appointment of Hon. Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu as the acting Chief Judge.”
The NJC had, at its 107th meeting held between November 13 and 14, 2024 recommended the compulsory retirement of the then Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka over alleged age falsification.
It said Justice Chikeka was recommended to the Imo State Governor for compulsory retirement with effect from October 27, 2021, with all salaries and allowances the judge received in excess from the said date refunded to the council.
The NJC added: “The recommendation was pursuant to the findings of the Council that His Lordship has two different dates of birth: 27 October 1956 and 27 October 1958.
“However, 27 October 1956 appeared to be the consistent date of birth, but in 2006, the Chief Judge swore to an affidavit changing the date of birth to 27 October 1958.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri Branch has expressed serious concerns over the appointment.
Speaking after swearing in the new Acting Chief Judge, Governor Uzodimma recalled the disgraceful manner the former Chief Judge was removed from office by the NJC, and the events that followed thereafter, and warned against a repeat of what he described as “dishonourable incident where a Chief Judge is suddenly removed from office for such an ugly indictment of age falsification.”
Reacting to the appointment, the NBA urged Governor Uzodimma to adhere to due process in the appointment of a new Chief Judge, emphasising the importance of following established protocols to ensure transparency and legitimacy.
According to the NBA, Nzeukwu’s appointment violates the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that the most senior judge of the High Court should be appointed as Acting Chief Judge in the event of a vacancy.
“We insist that due process must be followed in the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge,” Chairman of the NBA Owerri Branch, Chief Chris U. Ihentuge and the Secretary, Daniel O. Odiba, said in a statement yesterday.
According to the statement: “If the most senior judge or judges were bypassed, the rationale for this deviation must be immediately justified.”
Failure to do so, they warned, will further erode public confidence in the judiciary.
The NBA demands that Governor Uzodimma takes immediate action to address this situation and reverse the appointment, which they deem inconsistent with the Constitution.
The statement reads in part: “The Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch demands that the Governor should, immediately, take steps to address this situation and reverse this action which is inconsistent with the Constitution. Failure to do so will further erode public confidence in the judiciary at a time when trust in our institutions is already fragile. The Bar shall also take all steps necessary in the circumstance.
“The Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch, reiterates that it has no interest in any particular individual holding the office of the Chief Judge, but it is deeply committed to the protection of due process, the rule of law, and the sanctity of the Constitution.
“The NBA Owerri Branch has communicated its concerns to the Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), Imo State Chapter, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) of Imo State, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, and the National Judicial Council (NJC).”
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