Unity Colleges Reopen as Staff Suspend Strike Over King’s College Concession

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 Nigeria’s 115 Federal Unity Colleges.

The decision followed a meeting involving the Trade Union Congress, ASCSN leadership and zonal coordinators of the Unity Schools in Kano on Tuesday. In a communiqué issued on Wednesday, the union leaders said the suspension would allow a seven-member committee to review the concession document for King’s College.

The strike began after ASCSN and the Parent Teacher Association shut down the Federal Unity Colleges, demanding that the Federal Government reverse its decision to concession King’s College to the school’s Old Boys Association. Workers had also opposed the reopening of the colleges, arguing that the concession could have wider implications for the Federal Unity College system.

According to the communiqué, the concession has now been placed on hold pending the outcome of the review committee. ASCSN has two representatives on the seven-member committee, which is expected to examine the agreement and address concerns raised by organised labour.

The union’s decision means the industrial action has been suspended while the committee carries out its assignment. The colleges had originally been scheduled to resume on September 13, but the workers directed members to boycott the reopening as the dispute over King’s College continued.

The Parent Teacher Association has welcomed the suspension and proposed Sunday, September 27, 2026, for students to return to their schools. However, the parents said the proposed date remains subject to confirmation by the Federal Ministry of Education and urged the ministry to communicate its position quickly so families can make arrangements.

The controversy followed a September 4 directive by the Federal Ministry of Education for the handover of King’s College to the King’s College Old Boys Association. The ministry said the transition committee would complete the handover within six months, while Education Minister Tunji Alausa maintained that the arrangement was a concession rather than a sale or privatisation, with the Federal Government retaining legal ownership of the 117-year-old institution.

The dispute later led to an agreement between the Federal Government and organised labour on September 16 to pause implementation of the concession for two weeks and establish the seven-member review committee. However, a faction of ASCSN led by its National President, Shehu Mohammed, initially rejected the suspension and maintained that the strike remained in force. The latest decision by the union leadership and zonal coordinators now provides a path toward the reopening of the Unity Colleges while the concession review continues.