FCTA DECLARES ZERO-TOLERANCE FOR BULLYING IN ABUJA SCHOOLS
By: Prudence Okonna
The FCT Education Secretariat has announced a zero-tolerance policy for bullying in all secondary and primary schools within the territory.
The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Education Secretariat, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, made the strong declaration on Monday, November 17, 2025 in Abuja, during the commemoration and flag-off of the 2025 National Anti-Bullying Campaign Week (November 17-21).
Speaking at the press conference, Dr. Hayyo emphasized the significance of the campaign, themed “Screen Smart -Learning to be safe in the Digital Era,” given the “prevalence and effects of bullying and its hidden fear in students” across Nigeria.
“In our schools in the FCT and across Nigeria, bullying is a real troubling issue. There are reports of intimidation, senior students using force, or theft against juniors, and online harassment. School-related violence in all its forms is therefore an infringement of children and adolescents’ right to education and their health,” the Mandate Secretary stated.
He condemned bullying as more than just a “harmless joke or teasing,” defining it as “repeated behaviour meant to hurt, humiliate, or isolate someone verbally, physically, and emotionally, or even online (cyberbullying).”
The Anti-Bullying Campaign is described as a comprehensive initiative designed to “prevent, identify and respond to bullying while cultivating a school environment where every student feels safe and is respected.”
The Secretariat has outlined several activities to disseminate the anti-bullying message across FCT schools, including educating all stakeholders on what bullying is, why it is harmful, and how it undermines dignity and learning. Promoting Empathy by encouraging victims to speak up without fear and educating students on empathy and understanding. Empowering Bystanders, training bystanders to speak up and support victims instead of remaining silent.
Other strategies include building a culture of respect, kindness, and inclusion through student-led activities, training of staff and mentors to recognize and intervene early, providing counseling and support services for both victims and students who bully, and communicating school policies clearly to students, teachers, and parents.
Dr. Hayyo stressed that schools are not just places for academics, but “a community of care, where protection, respect, and dignity are foundational.”
The Permanent Secretary of the FCT Education Secretariat, Joy Okeke, reiterated this commitment, assuring that dialogue with teachers and students will be intensified to ensure the school environment is “very safe for learning and not an arena for bullying.”
Chairman, Association of Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPS), Dr. Jimoh Abiodun, affirmed the commitment of relevant stakeholders to pass on the anti-bullying messages throughout both primary and secondary schools.
Abuja Digest reports that the campaign aims to educate students, teachers, and parents on the severe negative effects of bullying and how to ensure a safe school environment.
