The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning over an unauthorised directive ordering government schools in the territory to close.
Wike faulted the actions by a Director in FCT Secondary Education Board, SEB, during an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure works at Guzape II (A11 District) in Abuja.
He declared that no such approval was given, describing the act as “unimaginable” and “very unfortunate.”
Suspension
The Minister announced the indefinite suspension of the Education Mandate Secretary, alongside sanctions for directors involved in issuing the circular in line with the Civil service rules.
“I was watching television last night and I saw a report that the FCT has directed schools to shut down. I couldn’t believe it. I had to call the Mandate Secretary of Education, who couldn’t even respond,” Wike said.
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“Later confirmed that a circular went out without our approval. It is unimaginable how people could take such a decision without the head of affairs knowing,” he said.
Wike emphasised that there was no threat anywhere in the FCT to justify the panic that would lead to the closure of schools in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
“We don’t have such a threat that will make us shut down schools,” he stressed.
“I even called the Commissioner of Police and other security authorities. This was not in their agenda. Kaduna has never shut down, Nasarawa has never shut down, Kogi has never shut down. So how could anyone claim we were threatened?, he asked.
Responding to suggestions that officials may have acted in anticipation of security risks, Wike dismissed such explanations as irresponsible.
According to him, “How could you have taken such an action in anticipation?” Even I cannot do that without informing the President. This is the FCT. Do you know what message that sends? That Abuja is unsafe?”
He assured residents that security agencies are fully in control and schools remain safe.
He further assured the residents that, “The security agencies are doing everything to ensure schools operate normally.”
“We will not forgive anybody involved in this,” the FCT Minister added.
Confidence Okwuchi