The Parents Teachers Association of Federal Unity Colleges has rejected resumption notices circulating on social media, saying they have not been approved by the national body of the association.
The PTA said it could not approve or encourage the resumption of students at this time, citing concerns over their safety and the absence of a clear and authenticated directive from the appropriate authorities.
The position was contained in a message to parents of Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, titled ‘Clarification on Resumption’ and signed by the school’s PTA Chairman, Dr Augustine Modu.
Modu said the association had contacted the appropriate leadership of the school union and was informed that some of the messages circulating about the resumption of academic activities were not authentic.
“We are aware of different letters purportedly signed by individuals or groups calling for the immediate resumption of school activities. However, after engaging with the appropriate leadership of our school union, we have been informed that some of the information currently circulating is not authentic and does not have the approval of the National Body,” he said.
According to him, the PTA’s priority remains the safety and wellbeing of students and staff, adding that the association would not support a return to school until the issues surrounding the current situation were properly resolved.
“In view of the above, the PTA cannot approve or encourage the resumption of our students at this time. Our primary responsibility remains the safety and wellbeing of our children,” Modu said.
He added that parents should continue to keep their children academically engaged at home by making use of the scheme of work already circulated by the schools.
“We strongly encourage parents and guardians to keep their wards academically engaged while they remain at home. Parents should make use of the scheme of work already circulated and encourage students to study, revise and complete relevant academic activities,” he said.
Modu also advised parents to remain prepared for a possible short-notice resumption once the situation is resolved and sufficient assurances are provided on the safety of students and staff.
He urged parents to disregard unverified messages circulating on social media and WhatsApp, stressing that official communications from the PTA and appropriate school authorities should be relied upon.
The development comes amid continued uncertainty over the reopening of the 117 Federal Unity Colleges across the country, following the suspension of an industrial action by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria.
ASCSN had directed its members, including teachers and other workers in the Unity Colleges, to suspend the strike following a conciliatory meeting with the Federal Ministry of Education and organised labour on September 17.
The industrial action was triggered partly by opposition to the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, as well as other demands by the workers.
Following the meeting, ASCSN Secretary-General, Gamaliel Acho, announced the suspension of the action for two weeks to allow for further consultations on the King’s College arrangement.
A seven-member committee comprising representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, organised labour, the King’s College Old Boys Association and the Federal Ministry of Labour was also expected to review the issues surrounding the proposed concession.
However, despite the suspension announced by ASCSN, several Unity Colleges have remained closed, with parents reporting uncertainty over when their children would return to school.
Parents of students in schools including Federal Government Boys College, Apo; Federal Government College, Rubochi; Federal Government Girls College, Abaji; Federal Government College, Warri; Federal Government Girls College, Sagamu; Federal Government Girls College, Bwari; and Federal Government College, Onitsha, have reportedly been directed to keep their children at home until further notice.
One parent, Paul Nze, told The Whistler that he had travelled from Anambra State to Abuja with his daughter, who attends Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, expecting the school to resume.
Nze said he had remained in Abuja for about a week while waiting for further information from the school, despite pressure from his employer to return to work.
Another parent, Mrs Mide Oluwale, whose son attends Federal Government Girls College, Abaji, said attempts to obtain clear information through the school’s PTA WhatsApp group had not provided certainty about the resumption date.
The situation has been further complicated by conflicting directives from the Federal Ministry of Education and rival factions within ASCSN.
In a September 18 memo to principals, with reference number FME/DSSE/SH/S.701/C.I/I and titled ‘Re: Resumption for 2026/2027 Academic Session’, the Federal Ministry of Education directed schools to resume academic activities on Sunday, September 20.
The memo, signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, stated that an agreement had been reached with labour unions to facilitate the resumption.
However, another directive attributed to a separate faction of ASCSN, led by Shehu Mohammed with Joshua Apebo as Secretary-General, maintained that the industrial action remained in force.
The faction reportedly rejected the outcome of the September 17 meeting, arguing that it did not represent an agreement with the leadership it recognised.
The conflicting positions have left many parents, teachers and school administrators uncertain about the appropriate directive to follow, while students remain at home in several Federal Unity Colleges.
For now, the PTA has urged parents to prioritise their children’s academic activities at home and await an authenticated notice before sending them back to school.
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