117 Federal Unity Colleges Suspend Strike Over King’s College Dispute

ABUJA, Nigeria — September 24, 2026

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has suspended its industrial action across Nigeria’s Federal Unity Colleges, clearing the way for affected staff to return to work.

The decision followed a meeting between ASCSN, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and zonal coordinators of the Unity Schools in Kano on Tuesday, September 22.

Why were the schools on strike?

The dispute centres on the Federal Government’s proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA).

Workers opposed the arrangement and raised concerns about its implications for the school and the wider Federal Unity College system.

The Federal Government has maintained that the arrangement is not a sale or privatisation. According to the government, legal ownership of King’s College remains with the Federal Government, while KCOBA would finance, rehabilitate, modernise, operate and maintain the institution.

Seven-member committee to review the deal

The Federal Government has put the implementation of the concession on hold while a seven-member committee reviews the agreement.

ASCSN has two representatives on the committee. The union said the strike suspension will remain in place while the committee carries out its review and submits its recommendations.

Schools expected to resume

With the strike suspended, academic activities are expected to restart across the Federal Unity Colleges.

The disruption had delayed the planned September 13 reopening of the schools. Some Parent-Teacher Associations have already issued instructions on when students should return for the new academic session.

However, ASCSN has made clear that the suspension is not necessarily a permanent end to the industrial action. The union said the strike could resume depending on the outcome of the committee’s review and further instructions from its leadership.

MONAFRIKA WATCH

The immediate issue is now the review of the King’s College concession agreement.

The committee’s findings could determine the next stage of the dispute between the Federal Government, labour unions and the school’s Old Boys Association.