The National Association of Nigerian Students has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, demanding the immediate reopening of public primary schools in Abuja or face a mass student-led protest and shutdown of the Federal Capital Development Authority.
The warning follows the continued closure of public primary schools in the FCT for over two months due to unresolved issues between the FCT Administration and the Local Government Education Authorities.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday by its National President, Olushola Oladoja, and National PRO, Samson Adeyemi, NANS accused the FCT administration of denying children from low-income backgrounds access to basic education while the children of elites enjoy uninterrupted learning in expensive private schools.
“It is disheartening that for over two months, innocent children have been locked out of classrooms in the capital city of Nigeria. This injustice speaks volumes of the government’s insensitivity to the plight of the common man,” the statement read.
NANS revealed that several official letters had been sent to the minister, seeking intervention and requesting an audience to resolve the crisis.
However, the student body said none of the correspondences had been acknowledged, nor had any meeting been granted.
“Our approach has always been rooted in responsible engagement and constructive dialogue, but the Minister’s silence has left us with no choice but to escalate,” NANS stated.
The student body warned that if the government fails to act within seven working days, it will mobilise thousands of students and education rights activists from across the country for a peaceful but total shutdown of the FCDA.
“The right to basic education is non-negotiable, and any attempt to suppress it under political or bureaucratic excuses will be met with legitimate resistance.
“Failure to act promptly will force us to bring Abuja’s administrative machinery to a standstill. The future of Nigerian children cannot be sacrificed on the altar of administrative irresponsibility, ” the statement concluded.
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