The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, has suspended its industrial action across Nigeria’s Federal Unity Colleges, paving the way for the resumption of academic activities after the dispute over the concession of King’s College, Lagos.
The decision was reached at a meeting involving the leadership of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, ASCSN and zonal coordinators of the Federal Unity Schools in Kano on Tuesday, September 22, and announced in a communiqué on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
The union said the strike was suspended to allow a seven-member high-level committee to review the concession document for King’s College and address concerns raised by organised labour. ASCSN has two representatives on the committee.
The decision followed the Federal Government’s agreement to put the implementation of the King’s College concession on hold pending the outcome of the committee’s review. ASCSN said the suspension of the strike would remain in place while the committee carries out its assignment.
The industrial action had disrupted the reopening of the Federal Unity Colleges for the 2026/2027 academic session. The schools were initially scheduled to resume on September 13, but workers under ASCSN stayed away following opposition to the proposed concession of King’s College to its Old Boys Association.
The Parent-Teacher Association of the Federal Unity Colleges has now proposed Sunday, September 27, 2026, as the date for students to return to their respective schools. However, the proposed date is still subject to confirmation by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The PTA urged the ministry to communicate its position promptly so that parents and guardians could make arrangements for their children’s return. It also called on the government, labour unions and school authorities to sustain dialogue while allowing the seven-member committee to complete its review.
The parents further appealed for the release or restoration of PTA staff affected during the dispute and urged all parties to allow the review process to proceed without pressure. ([Punch Newspapers][2])
The dispute began after the Federal Ministry of Education directed the handover of King’s College to the King’s College Old Boys Association following a concession agreement. The Federal Government has maintained that the arrangement is not a sale or privatisation of the 117-year-old school.
Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the Federal Government would retain legal ownership of King’s College, while the Old Boys Association would be responsible for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the institution.
The government and organised labour subsequently agreed to suspend implementation of the concession for two weeks and constituted the seven-member committee to review the agreement. The latest suspension of the Unity Colleges strike therefore allows staff to return to work while the review continues.
Although the ASCSN has suspended the industrial action, the union has clarified that the suspension does not amount to a permanent termination of the strike. It said the action could be reconsidered depending on developments from the review committee and subsequent directives from its leadership.
If the Federal Ministry of Education confirms the PTA’s proposed September 27 date, students in the affected Federal Unity Colleges will be able to return to school after weeks of uncertainty over the start of the new academic session.
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