BY HENRY TYOHEMBA, IGHO OYOYO, AZA MSUE, NONYE EKWENUGO, SAMUEL ABULUDE, PATRICK OCHOGA, NNAMDI MBAWIKE, KALU EZIYI, EMMANUEL MGBEAHURIKE

The federal government has said it will soon provide an update on the non-resumption of academic activities in some Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) in Abuja and other states.

The development followed a directive by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters Chapter, ordering the immediate closure of all Federal Unity Colleges and Ministry of Education offices nationwide from Monday, September 14, 2026.

The directive, contained in a September 11 memo signed by the chapter chairman, Comrade Sampson Chigozie Ngadi, followed a union congress at which members resolved to oppose the proposed concession of some Unity Schools.

The memo, addressed to all ASCSN unit chairmen in Federal Unity Colleges, instructed them to ensure that the colleges and Ministry of Education offices remained closed until further notice.

The action came despite an earlier directive by the federal government that all Federal Unity Colleges should resume academic activities on Monday.

Reacting to inquiries by LEADERSHIP, the special adviser to the Minister of Education, Mr Attah Ikharo, said the government was committed to dialogue with the unions.

He said, “The federal government remains committed to dialogue and the welfare of workers while ensuring that ongoing education reforms serve the national interest and protect the future of Nigerian children.”

Parents of some students told LEADERSHIP that they had travelled long distances with their children in preparation for the new academic session, only to meet locked gates.

A parent whose son attends Federal Government College, Bwari, Abuja, Mrs Adeyemi Folasade, said she took her child to the school on Sunday in preparation for the announced resumption but was surprised to find the premises shut.

“I took my son to the school on Sunday because we were told that the Unity Colleges would resume on Monday, but when we got there, everywhere was locked. There was no clear information about what was happening or when the students would actually resume,” she said.

She added that the uncertainty had created unnecessary anxiety for parents who had already made arrangements for their children to return to school.

At Federal Government College, Garki, Abuja, the school was also shut on Monday, with students and workers continuing to oppose the proposed concession plan.

The Federal Ministry of Education had, in a statement issued on Friday by its director of press and public relations, Folasade Boriowo, said necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure a safe, smooth and seamless commencement of the new academic session.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had also assured parents and guardians that the safety and well-being of students and staff remained central to the government’s commitment to providing a secure and conducive environment for teaching and learning.

However, when LEADERSHIP sought an update on the resumption of the Federal Unity Colleges and clarification on why some schools remained closed despite the ministry’s earlier directive, the minister’s aide said the government was already addressing the issue.

According to him, Alausa was meeting with the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), ASCSN and other affiliated unions over concerns surrounding the proposed changes at King’s College, Lagos.

The meeting, attended by the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Folake Olatunji David, was focused on addressing workers’ concerns and finding a mutually acceptable way forward.

Students Locked Out As Workers Protest FG’s Concession Plan

In the Federal Capital Territory, students expected to return to Federal Government Colleges on Monday were left stranded and uncertain as the industrial action forced the institutions to shut their gates.

At the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Bwari, some students dressed in mufti arrived for the new academic term, apparently unaware of the strike. They were subsequently told to return home until further notice.

The usually busy school environment was noticeably quiet, with only vehicles belonging to members of staff seen entering the premises.

Placards at the school entrance indicated that workers were protesting the federal government’s concession of some Unity Schools, particularly the decision to hand over King’s College, Lagos, to its alumni association.

Some of the messages read, “An Injury to One Is an Injury to All,” while others rejected moves to concession or privatise Federal Unity Colleges.

Several staff members approached for comments declined to speak, saying the unions coordinating the strike were responsible for communicating the workers’ position.

The development left parents uncertain about when the schools would reopen and whether the disruption would affect their children’s academic programmes.

A parent and member of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Mrs Gladys Bello, said the situation was particularly disturbing because students were expected to resume classes on Monday.

She expressed concern that the concession or privatisation of Unity Schools could increase the financial burden on parents and deny children from less privileged families access to the institutions.

A similar situation was observed at Federal Government Boys College, Garki, where students arriving for resumption gathered outside the school gate as they tried to ascertain whether academic activities would commence.

One of the students said many of them had arrived expecting normal academic activities but were surprised by the shutdown.

Unity Schools In Kaduna, Benue Under Lock And Key

The Federal Government College, Malali, Kaduna State, remained closed on Monday following the ASCSN directive.

A visit to the school by LEADERSHIP showed that no academic activities were taking place, with no students seen on the premises.

A staff member, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that the institution was complying with the union’s directive.

A neighbour of the school, Aminu Ahmed, said some parents who were unaware of the directive had brought their children to the school on Sunday, September 13, but were turned back by security personnel at the gate.

Meanwhile, Federal Unity Colleges in Gboko, Otobi, Otukpo and Vandeikya, Benue State, were also under lock and key in compliance with the directive.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP by telephone, a parent of a student at Federal Girls College, Gboko, Isaac Tyotom, described the shutdown as unfortunate.

Another parent, Esther Aondongu, said her daughter could not resume at Federal College, Vandeikya.

“I bought provisions for her and just for me to hear that the Federal College, Vandeikya, has closed down. Now, my daughter will consume the provisions at home, and when the school opens, it will be difficult for me to buy more provisions for her. The Federal Government and the workers should resolve the issue as quickly as possible for students to resume,” she said.

Imo Unity Schools Also Shut

Federal Unity Schools in Imo State also did not resume for the new academic session.

When LEADERSHIP visited Federal Government Girls’ School, the premises were found under lock and key.

A parent, Dr Uzoma Okereke, said the school was still on holiday and that students were expected to resume for the full academic session the following week.

Another parent, Johnson Ibekwe, also said the school was on recess and full resumption was expected the following week.

At Federal Government Girls’ College, Old Umuahia, the entrance remained locked on Monday. A source at the college said the school had been closed since Sunday, when students were expected to return for the first term of the 2026/2027 academic session.

Lagos Schools Comply With Strike Directive

In Lagos, a visit to Federal Government College, Ijanikin, showed that the school had not resumed and was closed in compliance with the indefinite boycott declared across the Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Ministry of Education offices.

Students were not seen moving within the school premises, while management complied with the directive issued by ASCSN and the Joint Congress of Unions of the Federal Ministry of Education.

A parent who declined to give her name said parents had been advised through the PTA platform not to bring their children to school until further notice.

Another parent, Mrs Ebun, said King’s College, Lagos, remained closed and her son was at home in solidarity with the protest against the planned handover of the school to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Enugu, Edo Schools Remain Closed

In Enugu, LEADERSHIP observed that Federal Government College, Enugu, was not operational, with the gate under lock and key.

A notice pasted on the gate read: “Federal Government College, Enugu Not For Sale.”

A parent, Mrs Osuji Osakwa, appealed to the federal government not to allow the sale or privatisation of Unity Schools, arguing that the schools had qualified teachers and remained affordable for parents.

A student, Miss Favour Mbakwe, said students had been instructed not to return to school until further notice.

In Edo State, Federal Government College, Benin, also remained closed on Monday.

When LEADERSHIP visited the school, a banner displayed at the main entrance by ASCSN carried the inscriptions, “An Injury To One Is An Injury To All” and “No Concession of Federal Unity Colleges, No Resumption.”

Some parents who brought their children to the school were reportedly turned back, while security personnel were stationed at the entrance to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

A parent, Mr Osifo, opposed the concession of the Unity Colleges, describing them as national heritage that should be preserved for future generations.

The same situation was observed at Federal Technical College, Uromi, where the gates were locked at the time of the visit.