Wike Suspends FCT Mandate Secretary Over Unauthorised Closure Of Schools

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has indefinitely suspended the FCT Mandate Secretary of Education, Dr Danlami Hayyo, for issuing an unauthorised directive to close schools in the territory.

Wike, who spoke during an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure work at Guzape II (A11 District) in Abuja, said that other senior officials involved in issuing the misleading circular would be sanctioned.

“I was watching television last night, and I saw that FCT has directed that schools should be shut down. I couldn’t believe it,” Wike said.

The minister revealed that, upon investigation, he discovered the circular had been sent to all schools without his approval.

“I called the Commissioner of Police and other necessary authorities. I said, ‘Who did this?’ and they said it was not on their agenda. There is no way, because we don’t have such a threat that will make us shut down the schools,” he said.

The Minister condemned the action, stating it created a false impression of insecurity in the nation’s capital.

“This is the FCT. Do you know what that tells? There is insecurity in FCT. Kaduna has never shut down, Nassarawa has never shut down, and Kogi has never shut down. So how will you say we were threatened?” he said.

While assuring residents of the safety of schools, Wike vowed that all officials involved would face sanctions.

“The Mandate Secretary of Education has been suspended indefinitely, and the directors who were involved would be sanctioned according to civil service rules.

“It is unimaginable how people could take such a decision without the head of the affairs knowing. It is very unfortunate,” he stated.

When asked if the officials acted in anticipation of a possible security threat, Wike said, “How could you have taken such an action in anticipation? I mean, even I cannot do that without letting the President know. We will not forgive anybody who is involved in this.”

Earlier, the minister had defended his administration’s focus on completing inherited projects, particularly the engineering infrastructure in Guzape and Maitama II districts.

“It is most unfortunate, what I’ve always said, that most of the jobs you see us doing are jobs that were awarded years back before the inception of this administration of 2023,” Wike said.

He explained that the Guzape project, known as Lot A11, was awarded six years ago but stalled due to lack of funding.

Similarly, the Maitama II project was awarded over a decade ago, leaving landowners unable to access their properties.

“We felt that the only way we can create, or make people develop, is to build infrastructure. So it’s our duty, even though we are not the ones who awarded it, to complete it.