In a carefully choreographed return to office, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Education Secretariat, has used his first public appearance since reinstatement to pledge absolute loyalty to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, announce a fresh wave of internal reforms, and attempt to reassure anxious parents that all public schools in the territory remain safe.
Speaking shortly after resuming duties, Hayyo framed his comeback as divine vindication and ministerial mercy. “I thank God Almighty for vindicating me over the last incident,” he said. “I also sincerely thank the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, who understood the situation and reinstated me. My loyalty to the Honourable Minister is 100 per cent.”
The “last incident” — widely understood to involve the unauthorized issuance and circulation of sensitive administrative decisions by a director without clearance from the Mandate Secretary or the Minister — was never explicitly detailed in the statement. Hayyo, however, used the episode as the springboard for his first major reform announcement: mandatory refresher training for all directors, including newly appointed ones.
“The first thing we will do is embark on refresher training for directors,” he declared. “They must clearly understand their mandates, responsibilities and the limits of their authority.” The message was unmistakable: no more rogue memos, no more freelance decisions. Going forward, every significant action must pass through the Mandate Secretary and ultimately receive the Minister’s blessing.
On the issue that most directly concerns parents — school safety — Hayyo offered a blanket assurance. “All FCT schools are very safe,” he stated categorically. “Issues of security are handled directly by security agencies such as the police and other services, who constantly brief the Minister. We only provide advice where necessary.”
The Mandate Secretary also rolled out an impressive scorecard of infrastructure investment under the current administration. He disclosed that approximately 26 per cent of the FCT’s capital budget from 2023 to date has been channelled into education — a figure that aligns with international benchmarks for social sector spending. Over 100 schools have either been renovated or are currently under renovation, with 60–70 per cent of these projects expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026, paving the way for a high-profile commissioning ceremony by the Minister.
Hayyo linked the massive rehabilitation effort directly to improved student outcomes, pointing to FCT students’ growing success in national and international competitions, including robotics and artificial intelligence contests abroad. “The transformation of schools has a direct relationship with improved academic performance,” he said. “Today, FCT students are competing and winning internationally.”
He urged media houses and analysts to judge academic results in proper context, taking into account student population size and the quality of facilities. “FCT schools remain among the best-equipped and best-performing in the country,” he insisted.
The combination of personal loyalty declaration, internal discipline push, safety reassurance, and infrastructure boasts presents a clear picture: the Education Secretariat under Dr. Hayyo intends to project unity, competence, and forward momentum — all firmly under the minister’s command.
Whether the promised refresher courses translate into genuine administrative rigor, whether school safety assurances hold firm amid the country’s broader security challenges, and whether the wave of renovations will indeed deliver lasting academic gains will be the real tests in the coming year.
For now, the Mandate Secretary has made his position crystal clear: he is back, he is loyal, and he intends to run a tight, minister-approved ship.
