Staff of Federal Unity Colleges across Nigeria have refused to resume academic activities despite a directive by the Federal Government ordering schools to reopen, insisting that their indefinite strike over the proposed management takeover of King’s College, Lagos, remains in force.
The development means students and parents in the affected schools remain unable to return to normal academic activities, even as the 2026/2027 school session has begun.
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.
The agreement provided for a two-week suspension of the planned takeover of King’s College by its Old Boys’ Association, while a seven-member committee would review and negotiate the government’s agreement with the alumni body.
The government also assured workers that no staff member would be victimised for participating in the protest and agreed to withdraw policemen deployed to King’s College.
However, the Shehu Mohammed-led faction of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria rejected the agreement, arguing that it was not binding on the union.
The faction accused the Ministry of Education of negotiating with individuals it said did not have the mandate to represent the association and directed its members to continue the strike.
King’s College remains shut
At King’s College, Lagos, the ASCSN chapter chairman, Sam Enang, confirmed that the school had not reopened.
“We have not resumed. The pupils are at home. We have not called off the strike,” Mr Enang said.
He said the union had instructed workers to remain on indefinite strike until the government reversed the situation surrounding the college.
Mr Enang also alleged that the ministry breached its agreement with the unions by deploying police officers to the school during the earlier confrontation involving protesting workers and members of the Old Boys’ Association.
He further claimed that the government had breached the agreement by negotiating with another group.
115 Unity Colleges affected
According to Mr Enang, the industrial action extends beyond King’s College to the 115 Federal Unity Colleges across the country.
He said workers had been directed to remain on strike across the six geopolitical zones and that no Unity College had resumed.
The situation was also confirmed at the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, where the ASCSN chairman, Ayo Hundeyin, said staff and students had not returned to academic activities.
Mr Hundeyin said workers were also concerned about what they described as possible plans to hand over other Unity Colleges to private interests, specifically mentioning institutions in Kano, Port Harcourt and Ilorin.
“The education of our children is our priority,” Mr Hundeyin said, adding that the workers would not support privatisation of the schools.
The prolonged disagreement has created uncertainty for thousands of students and parents who expected the new academic session to begin normally.
Parents who have already made arrangements for school fees, accommodation, transportation, uniforms and other school-related expenses now face uncertainty over when classes will actually resume.
The dispute also raises broader questions about how the Federal Government intends to address the infrastructure and management challenges confronting Unity Colleges, while balancing the concerns of workers, parents, students and alumni associations.
FG insists King’s College has not been sold
The Federal Government has maintained that King’s College has neither been sold nor privatised.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa said the proposed arrangement with the Old Boys’ Association was an isolated case and would not be extended to other Unity Colleges.
“No. We’re not extending it. The government still has its responsibility,” Mr Alausa said.
He added that the government remained committed to directly funding the rehabilitation of other Unity Colleges while exploring alternative funding arrangements to address their infrastructure deficits.
For now, however, the disagreement between the government and the union continues to keep the affected schools shut, leaving students and parents waiting for a resolution.
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