Workers in Nigeria’s 115 Federal Unity Colleges have refused to resume work despite the Federal Government’s directive that schools reopen today, September 14, 2026, for the new academic session.
The shutdown was ordered by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and other unions under the Federal Ministry of Education. The workers are protesting the Federal Government’s decision to concession King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys Association.
The unions said the boycott would continue until the government reverses the concession arrangement. They have also directed workers in Federal Ministry of Education offices to withdraw their services.
The development has disrupted the planned reopening of the Federal Unity Colleges, leaving some students and parents stranded as they arrived at schools expecting the new academic session to begin.
According to reports, 112 of the 115 Federal Unity Colleges had complied with the workers’ directive, although a few schools admitted students who had already travelled long distances to resume.
The unions are particularly concerned that the concession of King’s College could create a precedent for other Federal Unity Colleges. They argue that transferring the management of public schools to private or alumni organisations could gradually weaken the public education system.
The Federal Government, however, has rejected claims that King’s College is being sold or privatised. Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa said the government would retain legal ownership of the 117-year-old institution.
According to the minister, the concession is intended to transfer responsibility for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the school to the King’s College Old Boys Association, while the government retains oversight.
The government has also insisted that Federal Unity Colleges should reopen as scheduled. The Ministry of Education said security agencies had been informed of the resumption arrangements and that measures were in place to protect students and staff.
The disagreement has therefore created a major standoff between the Federal Government and education workers at the beginning of the 2026/2027 academic session.
Parents and students are now waiting for further discussions between the government and the unions to determine when academic activities in the affected schools will fully resume.
