NUC has ordered the closure of universities across the country to enable students to participate in the general elections.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Ahead of the February 25 national and March 11 state polls, the regulatory agency for universities in Nigeria, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has ordered the closure of universities across the country to enable students to participate in the general elections.
In a letter addressed to vice-chancellors of all universities and directors of inter-university centres, the NUC noted that the directive was based on the directive of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.
The directive reads:
“As Vice-Chancellors of all Universities and Director/Chief Executive of Inter-University Centres are quite aware the 2023 General Elections have been scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023, for the Presidential and National Assembly, and Saturday, March 11, 2023, for Gubernatorial and State Assembly, respectively.
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“In view of the foregoing and concerns expressed on the security of staff, students and properties of our respective institutions, the Honourable Minister of Education, Mal. Adama Adamu has following extensive consultations with the relevant security agencies, directed that all Universities and Inter-University Centres be shut down and academic activities be suspended between February 22 and March 14, 2023.
“Consequently, Vice-Chancellors and chief executives of inter-university centres, are by this Circular requested to shut down their respective Institutions from Wednesday 22nd February 2023 to Tuesday 14th March 2023.
“Please, accept the renewed assurances of the Executive Secretary ‘s highest regard for your understanding and unwavering cooperation”, the letter from the NUC read.
There have been calls from the public for the closure of tertiary institutions to enable students to vote during the 2023 elections. Public affairs commentators and civil society activists have been in the vanguard of the calls. Part of their reasons is that the youths constitute over 60 percent of the country’s population, hence denying some of them in the higher institutions the opportunity to vote, would amount to denying them their constitutional rights.
Data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reveals that over 26 million students are currently registered.