FG disowns fake circular on three-week holiday

The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed as fake a circular circulating on social media which claimed that the Federal Government had approved an additional three-week holiday for students of Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

The ministry, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the purported circular did not originate from the Federal Ministry of Education and should be disregarded by parents, students, and other stakeholders.

It also reaffirmed that all Federal Unity Colleges are expected to resume academic activities on Monday, September 14, 2026, as earlier approved, specifically denying reports in the fake document that resumption had been shifted to October 4, 2026.

According to the statement, the fabricated circular was dated September 8, 2026, and carried the reference number FME/SS/UNI/2026/128.

The Ministry noted that the document was fraudulent and falsely carried the name and signature of Dr. (Mrs.) Aisha Garba as Permanent Secretary, clarifying instead that the current Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry is Dr. (Mrs.) Folake Olatunji David.

“The ministry stated that the document did not originate from it and should be completely disregarded,” the statement read.

The development comes as parents and students prepare for the resumption of schools on Monday, with the ministry urging the public to rely only on verified information from its official communication channels.

It reaffirmed that there was no government directive approving an extension of the holiday or changing the September 14 resumption date.

Also reacting, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, also assured the public of the government’s commitment to a seamless resumption across the Federal Unity Colleges.

The Minister warned that the circulation of false government documents could create unnecessary confusion among parents and students, particularly at a time when schools are preparing to receive students for the new academic session.

The Ministry urged members of the public to verify information before sharing it on social media or other platforms.