The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has suspended its strike over the concession of King’s College, Lagos, clearing the way for the reopening of the 115 Federal Unity Colleges across the country.
The decision followed a meeting involving the leadership of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, ASCSN and zonal coordinators of the Unity Schools in Kano on Tuesday.
In a communiqué issued on Wednesday, the union leaders agreed to suspend the industrial action to allow a seven-member committee to examine the concession agreement involving King’s College.
The strike was launched about two weeks ago after the ASCSN and Parent Teacher Association shut the Federal Unity Colleges to protest the concession of King’s College to its Old Boys Association.
The schools were initially expected to resume on September 13, but ASCSN directed workers to boycott the resumption, arguing that handing over King’s College threatened the future of the Federal Unity College system.
The union’s latest decision followed a review of the agreement reached between organised labour and the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as the concession document.
The communiqué stated that the concession had been placed on hold pending the outcome of the seven-member committee, which includes two representatives of ASCSN.
Consequently, the zonal coordinators agreed with the national leadership of ASCSN to suspend the strike while awaiting the committee’s report.
“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 read.
The document 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.
Following the suspension, the Parent Teacher Association has proposed Sunday, September 27, 2026, as the new date for students to return to their schools.
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The PTA, in a statement issued on Wednesday, welcomed the suspension, describing it as an opportunity for the parties involved to resolve the dispute through 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 nationwide.
The parents said they were “prepared to support the immediate restoration of academic activities in the Federal Unity Colleges”, but noted that the proposed resumption date would depend on confirmation from 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 parents stated.
According to the PTA, early confirmation would enable parents and other stakeholders to make the necessary arrangements for students to return to school.
The parents also called on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Education, labour, school authorities and other stakeholders to maintain the dialogue that led to the suspension of the strike.
“The suspension of the strike should provide the necessary atmosphere for meaningful dialogue between the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Education, labour, school authorities and other stakeholders,” the statement read.
The PTA also appealed for the release or restoration of staff affected by the government’s actions, saying the matter should be resolved before the schools fully resume.
The parents urged both the government and labour to allow the seven-member committee to complete its work without interference.
They said, “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 added, “And let our children return to school on Sunday, 27th September 2026, if the FME is in agreement with the proposed date.”
The PTA subsequently urged parents nationwide to remain calm while awaiting an official decision from the Federal Ministry of Education.
The dispute over King’s College intensified after the ministry, in a September 4 letter, ordered the immediate handover of the school to the King’s College Old Boys Association 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 institution would cease.
However, the government clarified 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 would retain legal ownership of the 117-year-old institution, while KCOBA would take responsibility for funding, rehabilitation, modernisation, operation and maintenance.
The workers rejected the concession and extended their opposition by directing members at all Federal Unity Colleges to remain on strike.
Tensions rose further when members of the King’s College Old Boys Association, backed by police personnel, entered the school premises despite resistance from protesting workers.
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 the seven-member committee to review the concession document and consider the concerns raised by the unions.
However, a faction of ASCSN led by its National President, Shehu Mohammed, rejected the suspension and maintained that the strike remained in force.