Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has told northern governors shutting down schools for Ramadan to be prepared to do the same during the Christian Lenten season.

In a statement issued on Monday, Hayab condemned the decision by the governments of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi States over close public and private schools for five weeks, describing it as a major setback for education in the region.

He warned that if such religious considerations were to be applied fairly, then schools should also be shut during Lent, a move that would see children out of school for over two months in a year.

CAN expressed concern over the impact of the prolonged closure on students preparing for key examinations like the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Christian body argued that the decision could lead to massive academic failures and further disadvantage northern students competing for admission into tertiary institutions.

Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics, CAN highlighted that Bauchi, Kebbi, Katsina, and Kano already have some of the highest rates of out-of-school children in Nigeria, with figures standing at 54%, 45%, 38%, and 35%, respectively. It warned that shutting schools for religious reasons would worsen the region’s education crisis and widen the gap between northern and southern states in academic performance.

The association also questioned why predominantly Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates keep schools open during Ramadan while northern Nigerian states choose to close theirs.

CAN further revealed that consultations with Islamic scholars indicate that the school closures are not a religious requirement but rather a politically motivated decision.

The chairman urged northern governors to prioritize education and avoid policies that could portray the region as unserious about learning.

He called on well-meaning Nigerians to intervene in the matter while urging its members to remain calm and law-abiding. It emphasized that education and religious observances must be balanced to secure a better future for the region’s children.