The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed federal civil servants working within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja to stay at home and work remotely as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares to hold its national convention at Eagle Square.
The directive, contained in an official circular signed by Abdul Garba, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, ordered workers in affected offices to work from home on Friday, March 27, 2026.
According to the circular, all access roads leading to and around the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phases I, II and III, will be closed from Friday, March 27 to Saturday, March 28, 2026, to accommodate the political event.
“All Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies and Offices located within the Federal Secretariat, Phases I, II & III are hereby informed of the closure of all access roads leading to and around the said Federal Secretariat Complex, from Friday, 27th to Saturday, 28th March, 2026,” the circular stated.
The government explained that the decision was necessitated by the use of Eagle Square for the APC national convention, which is expected to attract top party leaders, delegates and supporters from across Nigeria.
“This is due to the use of Eagle Square for the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Party on the said dates,” the statement added.
The circular further directed that workers within the affected offices, including those at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should remain off-site during the period.
“Accordingly, all personnel whose offices are located within Phases I, II and III of the Federal Secretariat Complex as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are to work from home on Friday, 27th March, 2026.”
Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies were also instructed to ensure strict compliance with the directive.
“All concerned Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Agencies are kindly requested to bring the content of this Circular to the attention of their staff, and ensure strict compliance,” the circular noted.
The decision has already sparked conversations among public servants and political observers, as it reflects the significant scale of the APC convention and its impact on government operations in the nation’s capital.
The APC national convention, scheduled to hold at Eagle Square, is expected to shape key internal party decisions and lay the groundwork for political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, further underscoring the growing intensity of early political maneuvering within Nigeria’s ruling party.
The development also highlights how national governance activities are being temporarily adjusted to accommodate party political events, raising fresh debates about governance priorities and the use of public infrastructure for partisan activities.
As Abuja braces for the influx of political stakeholders, security presence is expected to increase around Eagle Square and surrounding areas, with movement restrictions likely to affect commuters, businesses, and residents within the Central Business District.
For many civil servants, the unexpected work-from-home directive marks a rare pause from physical office duties — but also underscores the growing political momentum building toward the next electoral cycle.