Immunization: FCT to sanction non-compliant schools under Child Rights Act
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned that schools within the territory that refuse to comply with child immunization requirements will face sanctions under the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003.
The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, gave the warning during a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, emphasizing that immunization is both a legal obligation and a moral responsibility.
Dr. Fasawe described the enforcement of immunization compliance in schools as a matter that touches the heart of child health and protection.
She noted that while the ongoing Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the FCT has achieved remarkable success, some schools have undermined the process by denying access to vaccination teams.
She commended the strong collaboration between the FCT Administration, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and development partners, saying their efforts have helped reach most of the target population across the six Area Councils.
The FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), she said, also supported 600 vaccination teams with reflective jackets and introduced health insurance linkages to improve vaccine uptake.
However, the Mandate Secretary expressed concern that some schools and institutions refused entry to vaccination teams during the exercise. According to her, such non-compliance not only denied eligible children vital protection against measles and rubella but also disrupted daily implementation plans, undermining years of public health progress.
“The Child Rights Act of 2003, as domesticated in the FCT, guarantees every child the right to health and protection from preventable diseases.
“Sections 13 and 14 of the Act place a legal obligation on parents, guardians, and institutions — including schools — to ensure that every child is fully immunized. Denying a child access to vaccination is, therefore, not merely an administrative lapse; it is a violation of a fundamental child right.” Dr. Fasawe explained.
In response, she announced that the FCTA had compiled a comprehensive list of non-compliant schools and initiated advocacy and sensitization activities to address the problem.
“Letters have also been issued to affected institutions reminding them of their obligations, while a three-day mop-up exercise involving 132 vaccination teams has been scheduled to reach unvaccinated children.”
To ensure long-term compliance, Dr. Fasawe disclosed that the FCTA has approved new directives for all public and private schools.
“These include mandatory immunization verification during admission or transfer, the maintenance of a Child Health Register in every school, collaboration with nearby Primary Health Care Centres for on-site immunization, inclusion of vaccination awareness in school activities, and monthly compliance reports through the Education Secretariat to the HSES.” She said
Fasawe warned that schools that fail to comply with these directives would face administrative sanctions as provided under the FCT Education and Public Health Regulations.
“Non-compliance will not be tolerated. We will ensure that every school in the FCT upholds the rights of children to health and protection,” she said.
Dr. Fasawe praised Stella Maris School, Abuja, for its exemplary cooperation with vaccination teams and urged other schools to emulate its compliance.
She also appealed to parents and guardians to allow their children to be vaccinated, assuring them that vaccines are safe, effective, and essential for disease prevention.
She reiterated the FCTA’s commitment to improving access to immunization and strengthening disease prevention mechanisms across all Area Councils.
“Our goal is simple, no child in the FCT should be left unprotected from preventable diseases.” she said.
The Mandate Secretary urged school proprietors, administrators, and parents to take joint responsibility for safeguarding the health of children.
“Immunization saves lives, it is a collective responsibility, a legal duty, and a moral imperative,” she emphasized.
Dr. Fasawe, however, called for unity and cooperation, stressing that child health and protection must remain a shared national priority.
“Together, we can ensure that no child in the Federal Capital Territory is denied the protection they deserve,” she said.
Related to this topic:
29 of 36: The States Now Under APC Control
2 February 2026
