The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council (JCC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has demanded immediate reopening of primary schools in the nation’s capital.
NANS expressed deep concern over the prolonged closure of public primary schools in the FCT due to the ongoing industrial action by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), threatening mass protest if the government fails to reopen the schools.
Chairman of NANS JCC FCT, Comrade Wele ThankGod Chimenem, in a statement on Friday, maintained that education is a fundamental right, stressing that denying young children access to learning for such an extended period was unacceptable.
“It is disheartening that innocent pupils are made to suffer due to issues that can and should be resolved amicably,” Chimenem said.
The students’ body called on the FCT Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and all relevant stakeholders to immediately engage with the leadership of NANS, NUT, and address their demands to reopen the schools without further delay.
“Failure to meet this demand within 144 hours will leave the leadership of NANS FCT with no option but to mobilise a mass protest across the FCT.
“We will not stand by while the educational future of our younger generation is mortgaged. These children are too young to suffer educational marginalisation. This is a clarion call to action. Enough is enough,” he said.
LEADERSHIP recalls that public primary schools across the FCT have been shut down since March 24, 2025, due to the Area Councils’ failure to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage and settle long-standing wage arrears.
