The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected and condemned a recently circulated memo that purported to order early closure of all federal government Senior Secondary Schools in Abuja. The memo which instructed school principals to shut down by November 28, 2025 was described by Wike as unauthorised, irresponsible and ungrounded in any official decision‑making process.
Wike announced the indefinite suspension of the FCT Mandate Secretary for Education, Danlami Hayyo, and ordered disciplinary action against the Director of School Services who signed the memo, Aishatu Sani Alhassan both condemned for acting outside their authority. A public statement from Wike’s media office described the circular as “false and misleading” and reaffirmed that no decision to close schools had been made by the administration.
The controversial memo had circulated widely on social media, causing panic among parents and school authorities particularly against the backdrop of recent mass‑school kidnappings and security threats in various states. However, the FCT administration emphasised that the academic calendar remains unchanged and confirmed that all public schools will continue to operate as normal.
In response to the controversy, Wike also ordered the resumption of heightened security measures across the Federal Capital Territory, including the reactivation of “Operation Sweep” a joint security initiative to ensure the safety of schools and communities.
Describing the unauthorised directive as an “embarrassing and dangerous breach of administrative protocol,” the Minister warned that any further attempts to disrupt the education system under false premises will be met with decisive action.
Parents, educators, and security watchers have welcomed Wike’s firm stance, calling it a necessary move to prevent panic and preserve stability in the FCT’s education sector. That said, the episode has renewed concerns over governance accountability and the ease with which misinformation can spread and cause disruption in sensitive sectors like education.
