Confusion has returned to Nigeria’s 117 Federal Unity Colleges as a faction of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, ordered an indefinite shutdown despite a Federal Government directive for students to resume Sunday.
The Federal Ministry of Education had directed principals to ensure that students who had not returned for the 2026/2027 academic session resumed 20th September 2026, saying it had reached an agreement with labor unions.
In a memo shared on 18th September, the ministry said, “the Ministry has reached an agreement with the Labour Unions, hence resumption of academic activities in all Federal Unity Colleges should commence.”
It also directed principals to ensure that staff were available to receive returning students.
However, the Shehu Mohammed-led ASCSN faction rejected the directive and ordered workers to maintain an indefinite shutdown until the issues surrounding the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, are resolved.
The union accused the ministry of entering a separate agreement with individuals it said did not have the authority to represent it.
“Up till now, the committee of relevant stakeholders promised by the Minister has not been constituted almost a week after the meeting,” the union said.
It also said documents relating to the King’s College concession had not been released as promised.
The dispute began after the Federal Government proposed a 35-year concession of King’s College to its old students association.
The government has said the arrangement would not amount to a sale and that it would retain legal ownership and regulatory powers.
Earlier, the Trade Union Congress had asked affiliated unions to suspend industrial action after a meeting with Education Minister Tunji Alausa.
Alausa subsequently announced a seven-member committee to review concerns raised by the unions.
But with the ASCSN faction rejecting the latest agreement, PTAs in several colleges have advised parents to keep students at home until further notice.
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