The Niger State Government refutes reports suggesting a potential ban on Hijabs in schools. Allegations emerged following comments attributed to the Commissioner for Education, Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, expressing reservations about female teachers wearing Hijabs while teaching.
The reported statement, purportedly made during a meeting with education stakeholders, led to misconceptions. Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago clarified the government’s stance through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, emphasizing that the commissioner’s remarks were taken out of context and didn’t reflect the official position.
Governor Bago’s statement highlighted the meeting’s purpose: to inform stakeholders about the administration’s educational strategies, including upcoming teacher screenings and competency tests. The government firmly asserted its support for Hijab usage, citing a Supreme Court ruling affirming the constitutional rights of Muslim students and teachers to wear Hijabs.
Emphasizing the state’s commitment to upholding citizens’ rights, Ibrahim reiterated that wearing Hijab aligns with religious obligations and constitutional provisions. He underscored the state’s compliance with the law and disassociated the commissioner from any alleged ban on long Hijabs in public schools, attributing the misinformation to malicious intent aimed at discrediting the commissioner and tarnishing the government’s image.
Ibrahim urged the public to disregard the misleading report, clarifying that the commissioner, being a Muslim, recognizes the significance of Hijab and wouldn’t impede its use. The government seeks to uphold religious freedoms and protect citizens’ rights in line with constitutional provisions.
Overall, the government’s official stance emphasizes support for Hijab usage and dismisses claims of a proposed ban as baseless attempts to undermine both the commissioner and the government of Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago.
