WIKE SURPASSES UNESCO BENCHMARK, ALLOCATES OVER 26% BUDGET TO EDUCATION – SECRETARY
By: Wisdom Acka
Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Education Secretariat, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, has lauded the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for exceeding UNESCO’s education funding benchmark by dedicating over 26 per cent of the capital budget to the sector.
The Secretary’s standout revelation was Wike’s consistent allocation of over 26 per cent of the capital budget to education, surpassing UNESCO’s recommendation.
“No state in Nigeria matches this,” Hayyo stated, hinting at a mass commissioning of projects in 2026.
Dr. Hayyo disclosed this during an exclusive interview following his resumption in office after the lifting of his suspension as Education Secretary by the FCT Minister, Barr Nyseom Wike, on Monday, 22nd December 2025.
The Mandate Secretary who began by expressing profound gratitude to God, the FCT Minister, and stakeholders for his reinstatement declared: “My loyalty to the Honourable Minister is 100 per cent, crediting the Minister’s discernment in resolving the issue.
He also thanked the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, and members of the FCT Administration for their support.
Highlighting upcoming reforms, Hayyo revealed plans for a “refresher training programme” for directors to strengthen internal communication and adherence to protocols.
“A director cannot circulate documents without ministerial approval,” he emphasized, referencing the incident that led to his temporary exit, stressing that the training would clarify mandates, responsibilities, and escalation procedures to prevent future lapses.
On school safety, Hayyo assured parents that FCT schools face “no security threats,” noting that security agencies directly brief the Minister on risks. He pivoted to Wike’s infrastructure legacy, revealing that over 100 schools have been renovated since 2023, with 60–70 per cent of projects slated for completion by Q1 2026.
“You’d think you’re in London or Germany when you visit our schools,” he boasted, asserting FCT’s unmatched educational facilities and excellence nationwide.
Commenting on academic performance and research gap, Hayyo argued on FCT’s examination results, urging journalists to contextualize data by population size.
He argued: “If 90 per cent of 100,000 FCT students score five credits, including English and Mathematics, how is that inferior to 70 per cent of one million in Lagos?”
The Mandate Secretary challenged researchers to study the correlation between infrastructure upgrades and improved performance, citing FCT’s victories in global robotics and AI competitions.
