Lawmakers in the house of representatives have appealed to the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NABTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), and the ministry of education, to suspend academic activities in tertiary institutions across the country to enable students to partake in the forthcoming general elections.

The lawmakers noted that the suspension of academic activities will ensure that students, who according to INEC, make up 40.8 percent of the total number of newly registered voters, will travel to the areas where their polling units are situated and partake in the electioneering process. 

Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was asked to make special arrangements for students to collect their PVCs.

The resolution was reached on Thursday, January 26, after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Kabir Ibrahim, a lawmaker representing Zuru/Fakai/Danko-Wasagu/Sakaba federal constituency of Kebbi.

Following the unanimous adoption of the motion, the house mandated committees on tertiary education and electoral matters to “liaise with the agencies to facilitate the process” and report back within one week.