FG to close all schools for 2015 elections?

The Minister of Education minister,Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and commissioners held a secret emergency meeting over the weekend.

This is following speculations that all private and public schools would be closed for two weeks nationwide.
 In a session with newsmen today, the minister when asked whether schools would be closed or not, answered:


 “As far as the Federal Government is concerned, nobody has made any statement in respect of closure of schools during election. But we are also aware that there are agitation and questions and conflicting views. Some are agitating that schools should be closed and some are saying there is no need to close schools. So to address this issue, the ministry has already summoned a meeting with all the states commissioners for education and stakeholders in education for today, (Monday), in Abuja."

“We feel that we in the ministry should not just sit in the office and issue such directives. We will meet with all stakeholders in the states and look at the benefits and disadvantages of closing down schools. But I want to assure you that we are going to put the interest of the nation first.

“You remember when Nigeria had Ebola crisis, we deliberated on the issue before we made joint statement and it went well. So after that meeting, we would brief you on whether schools would be closed during election. We would also give you reasons why schools should be closed.”

On the numerous strike actions by the staff union of universities, he said:

“I think we are making some progress on incessant strike actions in the sector. We have succeeded in ensuring we have strike-free sessions in our institutions and we are working hard to achieve this. We are determined to achieve this and the issue of strike would be a forgotten issue.

“This doesn’t mean there won’t be problems. There is hardly any sector where there is no problem but frank and strong discussions can resolve them. It is our hope that exchange of views would help us to be strike-free in this country”.

He said the Federal Government has also concluded arrangement to approve nine more universities to the 18 that had been approved in three years making 113 universities in Nigeria.

My word: It's not just about creating universities but an improved syllabus and increased employment opportunities