The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has condemned the announcement ordering all schools in Abuja to shut down, describing the action as unauthorized and taken without his knowledge. The minister, visibly angered, vowed that those responsible would face stiff disciplinary measures in line with Civil Service regulations.
Wike addressed journalists on Tuesday, November 26, after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in Guzape II District, Abuja. He expressed shock at discovering the directive from the Education Secretariat of the FCTA through a television news scroll on Monday night.
“I was watching the television last night and I saw a news scroll that the FCTA had directed that schools should be shut down and I couldn’t believe it,” the minister said. “I had to call the Mandate Secretary of Education and of course he couldn’t reply. I even got to know that a circular was issued to all the schools without our approval.”
Stunned by the development, Wike questioned how such a far-reaching decision could be taken without the knowledge of the head of the administration. “You can imagine how people will take such a decision without the head of the place knowing. It’s unfortunate… Heads have to roll. We will not forgive anybody who is involved in this,” he warned.
The minister dismissed claims that the decision was taken as a precautionary measure in response to rising insecurity. He insisted that even he could not issue such a directive without first briefing President Bola Tinubu, stressing that due process must always be followed.
Wike said that all directors and senior officials involved in the unauthorized closure would be sanctioned according to Civil Service rules. He maintained that the FCT Administration cannot tolerate insubordination or unilateral actions capable of causing panic among residents or misrepresenting government policy.
The controversy comes amid heightened public debate over school closures in parts of the country due to security concerns, but the FCT minister made it clear that such decisions must be properly approved and communicated through the right channels.