The planned reopening of Nigeria’s Federal Unity Colleges has been thrown into uncertainty as education workers move to suspend academic activities in protest against the Federal Government’s proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos.
Despite the Federal Ministry of Education’s directive that all Federal Unity Colleges should resume for the new academic session today, Monday, September 14, 2026, workers’ unions have maintained their position that staff should not return to work until their grievances are addressed.
The standoff has placed 112 of the country’s 115 Federal Unity Colleges at risk of disruption, according to reports. Only three schools — Federal Government College, Kwali; Federal Government College, Okposi; and Federal Government College, Otobi — were reportedly outside the full compliance with the workers’ directive, after some students who had travelled long distances were admitted.
The dispute centres largely on the Federal Government’s reported plan to concession the management of the historic King’s College, Lagos, to the institution’s Old Boys’ Association for a 35-year period.
The proposal has generated strong opposition from workers in the Federal Ministry of Education, who argue that the management of public institutions should not be transferred without adequate consultation and due process.
The development escalated last week when workers under the Joint Workers’ Committee of Unions in the Ministry protested at the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja. The unions subsequently threatened to extend their action to all Federal Unity Colleges if the Government failed to reverse the proposed concession.
A report on September 10 said the workers had threatened an indefinite shutdown of the Ministry and the 115 Unity Colleges over the King’s College arrangement. The unions also accused the Education Ministry of outsourcing some of its core responsibilities to consultants while failing to adequately address workers’ concerns.
The workers’ position was further strengthened by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, which represents a significant portion of employees within the affected institutions.
The unions subsequently issued a directive suspending the planned resumption of the Federal Unity Colleges until further notice.
In a notice dated September 11, the Joint Workers’ Committee reportedly instructed principals and union leaders in the colleges to ensure that workers complied with the directive.
The committee maintained that any separate instruction from the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, ordering schools to reopen would not override its position unless the matter was first addressed through the recognised labour-management framework.
The unions have also raised concerns about the readiness of some of the schools to receive students, citing issues including the availability of textbooks.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria had directed its members not to participate in the weekend exercise for receiving boarding students, and the directive was reportedly observed.
The latest confrontation comes only days after the unions intensified their campaign against the proposed King’s College concession.
According to reports, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria had earlier written to the Minister of Education, expressing opposition to the proposed arrangement and calling for dialogue. The union argued that Federal Unity Schools constitute important national institutions and that decisions concerning their future should involve proper consultation and transparency.
The unions have also reportedly called on other organised labour and professional bodies to support their position, increasing pressure on the Federal Government to resolve the dispute.
FG Insists On September 14 Resumption
While the unions have ordered workers to stay away, the Federal Government has remained firm on its position that the Federal Unity Colleges must reopen as scheduled.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed on September 11 that all Federal Unity Colleges nationwide would resume academic activities on Monday, September 14.
The Ministry said arrangements had been made to ensure a safe, orderly and smooth beginning to the new academic session.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the safety and wellbeing of students and staff remained a major priority of the Federal Government.
He disclosed that relevant security agencies had been informed about the resumption plans and were maintaining heightened vigilance around the schools and their surrounding areas.
The Minister also urged parents and guardians to remain calm, rely on official information and proceed with preparations for their children and wards to return to their respective Federal Unity Colleges.
He directed school authorities to maintain close coordination with security agencies and other relevant authorities to ensure a safe and orderly reopening.
The Federal Ministry of Education reiterated that it would continue to monitor developments and take necessary measures to ensure that academic activities resume without disruption.
The Government’s position was also reported by several Nigerian media organisations following the Ministry’s September 11 announcement.
Workers And Government Head For Showdown
The conflicting directives have created an unusual situation in which the Federal Government expects students to return to school while the unions representing workers in the education system have instructed their members not to resume.
The situation could affect thousands of students across the country, particularly those in boarding schools who are expected to return at the beginning of the new academic term.
The disagreement also places parents and guardians in a difficult position, as they have received assurances from the Federal Government that schools will reopen while unions have warned that workers may not report for duty.
The Federal Government has, however, continued to emphasise that security preparations have been strengthened ahead of the reopening.
The Ministry of Education said security agencies were maintaining heightened vigilance around the Federal Unity Colleges and their immediate environments as part of efforts to protect students, teachers and other members of the school communities.
The underlying dispute remains the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, and the broader concern among workers that similar arrangements could eventually affect other Federal Unity Schools.
For now, the Federal Government and the workers’ unions remain on opposing sides, with the Ministry insisting that schools must reopen on September 14 and the unions maintaining their directive for workers to stay away until their grievances are resolved.
The outcome of the standoff could determine whether academic activities begin as planned across the Federal Unity College system or whether the new school term is immediately disrupted by industrial action.