Unity Colleges Remain Shut As Staff Defy FG Resumption Order

Federal Unity Colleges remained shut in several places after staff members defied the Federal Government’s directive to resume academic activities, keeping the dispute over King’s College, Lagos, at the centre of the new school term.

The latest closure is a follow-up to the earlier resumption assurance reported here. Punch and Daily Trust both reported that the staff union faction opposed to the planned King’s College concession had not returned to work.

Punch reported that staff members at Federal Unity Colleges in Lagos and Ibadan stayed away from classes on Monday, despite a September 18 directive from the Federal Ministry of Education asking principals to resume academic activities. It said parents largely stayed away while union members were seen at school gates.

Daily Trust reported that most of the 117 schools remained shut seven days after they were due to reopen for the 2026/2027 academic session. It said the faction of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria led by Shehu Mohammed directed members to continue the strike until the government addressed concerns over the planned concession.

The reports said the government had suspended the planned management takeover for two weeks after talks with education-sector unions, but the faction rejected the outcome and insisted that the strike had not been called off.

Sources: Punch, Daily Trust