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By Gabriel Dike
The Federal Government has directed heads of tertiary institutions to close their campuses for the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
The decision to close universities, polytechnics and colleges of education is to allow millions of Nigerian students to exercise their franchise.
Daily Sun had carried an exclusive story in January 2023 alerting the government that about 3.8 million students may be disfranchised if tertiary institutions remained open during elections.
The Federal Government through agencies in charge of the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education has sent circulars to vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts to close the presidential and gubernatorial elections.
In the circulars sent to VCs through the National Universities Commission (NUC), government directed closuree from Wednesday, February 22 to Tuesday, March 14.
In the circular signed by the Deputy Executive (Administration), Dr. Chris Maiyaki, entitled: “Ministerial Directive on the closure of all universities and Inter University Center during the Upcoming 2023 general elections” NUC said based on the concern expressed on the security of staff, students and properties of the institutions, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in consultation with the relevant security agencies, has directed universities and inter university centers to shut down and academic activities be suspended between February 22 and March 14.
A senior management staff of a Federal College in the North told Daily Sun that his institution was yet to receive the circular from the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) but was aware of government’s directive for tertiary to close for the forthcoming polls.
He stressed that since the circular was a directive from the minister of education, it would involve colleges of education and the provosts would comply with the ministerial directive.
Investigations revealed that rectors of polytechnics were awaiting the circular from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). A staff of Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna told Daily Sun that the ministerial circular was being expected.
Meanwhile, in compliance with the directive, the authorities of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, have approved lecture free weeks to enable students to vote during the presidential and governorship elections.
The announcement was contained in UNILAG Campus News made available to Daily Sun, entitled: “Fourth Revised Academic Calendar for second semester, 2021/2022 session.
In the revised academic calendar, UNILAG declared lecture free week from Thursday, February 23 to 27 to enable students to vote.
The university Senate also declared Thursday, March 9 to 13 lecture free week to allow students vote during the gubernatorial election on Saturday, March 11.
