Govt moves to enforce hijab usage in all Lagos schools

The Lagos Sate Government has said it is prepared to being the usage of Islamic headscarf, hijab, in all schools in the state.

The government said this in a circular dated December 5, 2022, by the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, copied to relevant stakeholders, including the Deputy governor, Speaker of the House of, the Chief Judge of the state, Secretary to the State Government, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries/ Tutors General, Local Government Chairmen, Teaching Service Commission Chairman, heads of tertiary institutions and Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board.

It explained that having exhausted all legal avenue on  the matter and the verdict of the Supreme Court that students should be allowed to wear the hijab if desired, it had no choice than to abide by the law.

It added that its desire to enforce compliance is immediate.

The statement titled, ‘Supreme Court Judgement on use of Hijab in Lagos State Schools,’ reads partly, “It is hereby notified for general information that the Supreme Court Judgement SC.910/2016 delivered on the 17th of June, 2022, on the use of Hijab as it affects Pupils/Students in Lagos State Schools has declared that Students should be allowed to wear the Hijab if desired.

“A Comprehensive Guideline on the use of Hijab in Schools will be issued by the State Government in due course, however you are to note that the judgement is binding on all schools in the State.

“As a law abiding administration, all Accounting Officers are to note the contents of this Circular for immediate compliance and give it the deserved Service-wide publicity.”