FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, has lamented the activities of some staff of the FCTA targeted at frustrating and sabotaging his effort to improve infrastructure in the capital city, while warning that perpetrators of such acts will be dealt with accordingly.
The minister who gave the warning on Wednesday, while inspecting ongoing road construction at Guzape extension, confirmed the indefinite suspension of the Mandate Secretary for Education over the false report on the closure of schools in the territory.
"Well, you know, in the system, sometimes you get baffled. And that's why it's important for one to be current. I was watching television last night, and I saw on the news that the FCT Administration has directed that schools should be shut down.
"I couldn't believe it, so I had to call the Mandate Secretary of Education, and of course, he couldn't reply, then I had to get into the details. I have learnt about the circular that was given to all the schools without our approval. And I know that we're having a Security Council meeting today.
"I called the Commissioner of Police, and I called other necessary authorities. I said, 'Who did this?' and they said, 'It's not in their agenda,' and 'there's no way because we don't have such a threat that will make us shut down the schools.'
"So because of that, the Mandate Secretary of Education has been suspended indefinitely, and the directors who were involved would be sanctioned according to civil service rules.
"But it's unimaginable how people could take such a decision without the head of the affairs knowing. It's very unfortunate," Wike explained.
While reassuring residents of the territory of his determination to provide massive road and engineering infrastructure towards expanding the city, Wike noted that all projects abandoned by the previous administration will be completed under his administration.
He added that the expansion project will not only create more cities within the territory, but also create more opportunities for people to carry out their business in a conducive environment.
"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. As it is rightly pointed out, the government is a continuum.
"To expand Abuja, we have to create more cities. Here is called A11, Guzape, and so, I believe, because of a lack of funding, it was stalled. But we felt that the only way we can create, or make people develop, is to create infrastructure.
"Remember that, like, Maitama II was awarded more than 10 years ago, and the people who had properties could not have access to their properties. And we felt that we are getting more congested than the need to create infrastructure in Maitama II.
"Today, by the grace of God, the Federal Executive Council has awarded that job for the provision of engineering infrastructure," he said.
