The Federal Government has charged Principals of the 117 Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) to take proactive responsibility for school security by moving beyond passive security arrangements to active deterrence, strengthening emergency preparedness and ensuring uninterrupted learning amid growing security concerns.
The charge was given by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Folake Olatunji-David, on Monday, November 9, 2026, while declaring open the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Principals of Federal Unity Colleges in Abuja, with the theme, “Nigerian Schools in the Midst of Insecurity: Building Safe, Resilient and Sustainable Learning Environments.”
Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, Olatunji-David described Principals as the chief security officers of their respective institutions and frontline leaders responsible for protecting learners, teachers and school facilities.
She stressed that education cannot thrive in an environment dominated by fear and insecurity, urging school administrators to translate government safety policies into practical and measurable actions.
She identified three critical priorities for the five-day meeting: strengthening local security architecture through collaboration with host communities, traditional rulers and security agencies; building psychological and institutional resilience through emergency preparedness, functional counselling services and alternative learning arrangements; and sustaining educational excellence through prudent resource management, infrastructure protection, transparency and accountability.
The Director urged Principals to institutionalise stringent access-control measures, intelligence gathering and early-warning mechanisms, strengthen school security personnel and establish effective communication channels with relevant security agencies.
She also emphasised the need for regular emergency drills, psychosocial support for affected learners and staff, and digital and offline learning alternatives to guarantee continuity of education whenever physical access to schools is disrupted.
While acknowledging ongoing Federal Government efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address insecurity, she reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment, under the leadership of Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, to strengthening school protection through collaboration with security agencies, improved staff welfare, digital infrastructure and continuous capacity development.
She further challenged the Principals to ensure that the AGM produced a concise, actionable communiqué and specific institutional action plans, rather than resolutions that would remain on paper. She stressed that every Principal must identify existing security gaps, determine areas requiring improvement and establish clear implementation steps.
In his remarks, the Director, Senior Secondary Education Department, Mr. Adeniji Ibrahim A., appreciated the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary for their leadership and support.
He also commended the resource persons, the North Central hosting zone, the Unity Schools Division and participating Principals for their contributions, expressing confidence that the AGM’s outcomes would translate into improved school administration, security and learning outcomes.
Earlier, the Chairman of Principals of Federal Unity Colleges, Alhaji Shehu Dahiru, described school safety as an investment in education, national development and the future of Nigerian children, stressing that security is a collective responsibility involving school administrators, teachers, parents, students, host communities, traditional institutions, government and security agencies.
He commended the Federal Government’s interventions in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), teacher professional development, digital learning, curriculum improvement and the Safe Schools Initiative, noting that these reforms demonstrate the recognition of education as an instrument of national transformation.
However, he identified persistent challenges, including insecurity, teacher shortages, inadequate funding, infrastructure deficits, staff welfare and rising operational costs.
He called for sustained government intervention in teacher recruitment, equitable deployment and training, improved infrastructure, laboratories, workshops and ICT facilities, as well as stronger psychosocial and emergency learning support systems.
Dahiru assured the Ministry of the Principals’ commitment to translating government policies into measurable improvements, while ensuring that security challenges do not permanently disrupt children’s educational aspirations.
In his lead presentation, the Commander, National Safe School Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC), Abuja, ACG Umanah A. Anedi, urged Principals to update their school security and safety plans within the current academic term, appoint and train designated safety focal persons, conduct at least two emergency drills every academic session and strengthen early-warning systems and engagement with host communities.
He reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to coordinating school protection efforts with the Ministry, state authorities and relevant security agencies.
In a goodwill message, the Deputy Registrar and Zonal Coordinator, WAEC Nigeria, Mr. Zakariya Abdullahi, representing the Head of National Office, advised Principals to ensure accurate capturing and verification of SS1 and SS2 continuous assessment records ahead of the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
He cautioned against examination malpractice and highlighted WAEC’s digital certificate initiative, which enables eligible candidates to access their certificates within two to three weeks of the release of results.
Also speaking, the President of the National Association of Retired Directors of the Federal Ministry of Education (NARED-FME), Rev. Dr. Uwem Asomugha, reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to supporting educational development and announced Federal Government Girls’ College, Oyo, as the recipient of the NARED-FME Annual Award for Best Federal Unity College in WASSCE Performance.
The Federal Ministry of Education reiterates that protecting learners and safeguarding educational institutions remain central to its commitment to quality, inclusive and uninterrupted education, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations