The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has suspended its strike across Nigeria’s Federal Unity Colleges, paving the way for the resumption of academic activities after weeks of disruption.
The decision followed a meeting involving the Trade Union Congress (TUC), ASCSN leadership and zonal coordinators of the Federal Unity Schools in Kano on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The unions agreed to suspend the industrial action while a seven-member committee reviews the concession arrangement involving King’s College, Lagos.
The strike had affected the reopening of the Federal Unity Colleges for the 2026/2027 academic session. The schools were initially scheduled to resume on September 13, but workers stayed away following opposition to the Federal Government’s plan to concession King’s College to its Old Boys Association.
According to the union, implementation of the King’s College concession has been put on hold pending the outcome of the review committee. Two representatives of ASCSN are members of the seven-member committee.
The Parent Teacher Association of the Federal Unity Colleges has welcomed the suspension and proposed Sunday, September 27, 2026, as a possible date for students to return to their schools. However, the proposed date is still subject to confirmation by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The dispute began after the Ministry of Education directed the handover of King’s College to the King’s College Old Boys Association under a concession arrangement. The ministry has maintained that the agreement does not amount to the sale of the 117-year-old institution and that the Federal Government would retain legal ownership. Under the proposed arrangement, the Old Boys Association would take responsibility for financing, rehabilitation, modernisation, operation and maintenance of the school.
The disagreement later expanded beyond King’s College, resulting in the closure of the Federal Unity Colleges and leaving students and parents uncertain about the beginning of the new academic session.
With the suspension of the strike, attention is now focused on the review committee and the Federal Ministry of Education’s confirmation of the proposed September 27 resumption date. Parents have also urged the government, labour unions and other stakeholders to allow the committee to complete its work without pressure.
