FG orders closure of universities during general election period

The Federal Ministry of Education has directed all universities and inter-university centres to close their institutions between February 22 and March 14, 2023 to enable students and other members of university communities in Nigeria participate in the 2023 elections

In a circular to Vice-Chancellors of all Universities and Directors and Chief Executives of Inter-University Centres, issued by the National Universities Commission, the break is necessary ti facilitate participation in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections and Saturday
the March 11,2023 governorship and state houses of assembly elections.

According to the circular, the Federal Government also weighed concerms expressed over the security of staff, students and property of the respective institutions.
There were also concerns that over 3 million Students would have been disenfranchised by lectures and examinations fixed within the general election period, aimed at covering time lost during the 8-month long strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

At the time of this report it was not clear if a similar circular had been sent to polytechnics, colleges of education and monotechnics.
The unions in these institutions went on strike for a cumulative period of three weeks between June and August 2022.