By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered disciplinary action against officials who issued an unauthorized directive shutting down schools in the FCT.
Wike said he was shocked to see a televised news scroll announcing the school closure, noting that he was never consulted. He confirmed that the Mandate Secretary for Education, Danlami Hayyo, has been placed on indefinite suspension.
The Minister told journalists after inspecting ongoing infrastructure works in Guzape II District that a circular had been issued to schools without his approval. He described the action as reckless and vowed that “heads will roll” in line with Civil Service rules.
He dismissed claims that the closure was a precautionary security measure, stressing that even he could not take such a decision without notifying the President.
While addressing the school closure incident, Wike also highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects in Guzape II and Maitama II, which had been stalled for years due to funding gaps. He said completing these projects is vital to enable landowners to access and develop their plots.
Wike assured residents affected by ongoing construction that they would receive compensation and relocation in line with the FCT Administration’s policy.
The Minister concluded by emphasizing that strict compliance with Civil Service rules is non-negotiable, warning that any future unauthorized actions would be met with immediate sanctions to protect the integrity of the FCT Administration.
