The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has suspended its strike over the concession of King’s College, Lagos, paving the way for the reopening of the 115 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
The decision was reached at a meeting involving the leadership of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), ASCSN and zonal coordinators of the Unity Schools in Kano on Tuesday, according to a communiqué issued on Wednesday.
The union leaders agreed to suspend the industrial action to allow a seven-member committee to review the concession document for King’s College.
The development comes about two weeks after ASCSN and the Parent Teacher Association shut all the Unity Colleges in protest against the Federal Government’s decision to concession King’s College to its Old Boys Association.
The colleges were initially scheduled to resume on September 13. However, workers under the ASCSN directed their members to boycott the resumption, arguing that the concession threatened the future of the Federal Unity College system.
According to the communiqué made available to The Telegraph, the leadership of the TUC, ASCSN and the zonal coordinators reviewed the agreement reached between organised labour and the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as the King’s College concession document.
They subsequently resolved “to suspend the ongoing strike action in the Unity Colleges to enable the seven (7) man Committee to review the Concession document.”
The union leaders said the decision was also based on the fact that implementation of the King’s College concession had been put on hold pending the committee’s report, with ASCSN represented by two members on the panel.
“Considering the above, the Zonal Coordinators of the Unity Schools agreed with the National Leadership of the ASCSN that the strike be suspended immediately while awaiting the report of the committee,” the communiqué stated.
The communiqué was signed by the zonal coordinators of the Unity Schools, including Omidiji Kunle, Lagos Zonal Coordinator; Abubakar Muhammad, North-West Coordinator; Yusuf S.A., South-West Coordinator; Tanko Augustine, North-East Coordinator; Udop Ogbodim, South-South Coordinator; Nosike F.O., South-East Coordinator; and Amodu Isiaka, North-Central Coordinator.
Parents propose September 27 resumption
Following the suspension of the strike, the Parent Teacher Association of the colleges proposed Sunday, September 27, for students to return to their schools.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the parents welcomed the suspension, describing it as an opportunity for all parties to continue dialogue.
The statement was signed by Farmer Ayopo Somefun, South-West Zonal Coordinator of the PTA Chairmen Association of Federal Unity Colleges, FTC, Ijebu Mushin, Ogun State, on behalf of parents and guardians of students in Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
The parents said they were “prepared to support the immediate restoration of academic activities in the Federal Unity Colleges,” but stressed that the proposed resumption date was subject to confirmation by the Federal Ministry of Education.
“We therefore call on the Federal Ministry of Education to urgently communicate its position on the proposed 27th September 2026 resumption date,” the statement said.
The parents said early confirmation was necessary to enable families and other stakeholders to make arrangements for the students’ return.
They also urged the government and labour unions to sustain their dialogue, saying the suspension of the strike should create an environment for meaningful discussions among the Federal Government, the Ministry of Education, labour, school authorities and other stakeholders.
The PTA further called for the release or restoration of staff affected by the government’s actions, saying the issue should be addressed before the schools fully resume.
The parents urged the government and labour unions to allow the seven-member committee to complete its work without pressure.
“Let the strike remain suspended. Let dialogue continue. Let the review committee do its work. Let the Federal Ministry of Education confirm its readiness,” they said.
The parents added: “And let our children return to school on Sunday, 27th September 2026, if the FME is in agreement with the proposed date.”
They appealed to parents nationwide to remain calm and await official confirmation from the Federal Ministry of Education.
Dispute over King’s College concession
The dispute over the concession intensified after the Federal Ministry of Education, in a September 4 letter, directed the immediate handover of King’s College to the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) following the conclusion of the concession agreement.
The ministry said a transition committee would oversee the handover within six months, after which Federal Government funding for the college would cease.
However, the government maintained that the arrangement did not amount to the sale or privatisation of King’s College.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the government retained legal ownership of the 117-year-old institution, while KCOBA would be responsible for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the school.
Workers opposed the concession and subsequently extended their protest to the reopening of all Federal Unity Colleges.
The dispute escalated when members of the King’s College Old Boys Association, backed by police, entered the school premises despite resistance from protesting staff.
On September 16, the Federal Government and organised labour agreed to suspend implementation of the King’s College concession for two weeks.
The agreement also provided for a seven-member committee to review the concession document and address concerns raised by the unions.
However, a faction of the ASCSN led by its National President, Shehu Mohammed, rejected the suspension and maintained that the strike remained in force.
