FEDERAL UNITY COLLEGES REMAIN SHUT DESPITE GOVERNMENT RESUMPTION ORDER

Staff of Federal Unity Colleges across Nigeria have continued their indefinite strike despite the Federal Government’s directive for schools to resume academic activities.

The workers, under the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, maintained that the strike over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, remained in force.

The Federal Government had directed principals of the Unity Colleges to resume academic activities following an agreement reached with education-sector labour unions on September 16.

Under the agreement, the government suspended the implementation of the planned management takeover of King’s College by its Old Boys’ Association for two weeks. The parties also agreed that workers would not be victimised for participating in the protest.

However, the union later directed its members to continue the strike, alleging that the Ministry of Education had undermined the agreement reached with its representatives.

At King’s College, Lagos, the chairman of the ASCSN chapter, Sam Enang, said the school had not resumed and that students remained at home.

He said workers in Federal Unity Colleges nationwide had been directed to remain on strike until the issues surrounding the proposed concession of King’s College were resolved.

The development has affected the reopening of the schools for the 2026/2027 academic session, with parents and students unable to resume normal academic activities in the affected colleges.

The Federal Government has maintained that the proposed arrangement is a concession and not a sale or privatisation of King’s College, while discussions with the unions over the matter continue.