Teachers in Federal Unity Colleges across Nigeria have been directed to return to classrooms following the suspension of an industrial action by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN).
The suspension is expected to end the disruption to academic activities in the schools, where students’ resumption for the first term had been affected by the strike.
Key Highlights
- ASCSN suspends its industrial action, and teachers in Federal Unity Colleges are directed to return to classrooms.
- The strike was triggered by the Federal Government’s proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, and other grievances.
- Government agrees to suspend the concession for two weeks to allow wider consultations and a review.
- A seven-member committee, including the ministry, organised labour, KCOBA and the Ministry of Labour, will report within two weeks.
- Police operatives deployed to King’s College, Lagos, are to be withdrawn immediately.
- Workers who participated in the industrial action will not be victimised or sanctioned.
The workers, under the Joint Workers Committee of the Federal Ministry of Education, had embarked on the industrial action over the Federal Government’s proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, as well as other grievances against the ministry.
The union announced the suspension on Friday following a conciliatory meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education and organised labour on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
At the meeting, the government reportedly agreed to suspend the proposed concession of King’s College for two weeks to allow for wider consultations and a review of the arrangement.
Seven-Member Committee to Review Concession
In a statement issued on Friday, ASCSN Secretary-General, Comrade Gamaliel Acho, said a seven-member committee had been constituted to examine the concession plan and other related issues.
The committee comprises representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, organised labour, the King’s College Old Boys Association and the Federal Ministry of Labour.
It is expected to submit its report within two weeks.
Acho said the union had consequently directed its members to suspend the industrial action in line with the communique reached at the meeting.
He said the suspension was intended to create room for dialogue and the resolution of the issues in dispute.
The union also said the government had agreed to immediately withdraw police operatives deployed to King’s College, Lagos.
Read also:
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Another agreement reached at the meeting, according to Acho, was that workers who participated in the industrial action would not be victimised or sanctioned.
Minister Apologises Over Consultation
He said the union appreciated the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa; Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad; the acting Permanent Secretary and other ministry officials for engaging with organised labour.
Acho also disclosed that the Minister had tendered an unreserved apology over what the union described as inadequate consultation with workers before the proposed concession, a dispute that had earlier led the Trade Union Congress to suspend its own planned shutdown of unity colleges.
He commended members of the Joint Workers Committee for their resilience and solidarity during the dispute, as well as the Parent-Teacher Association of King’s College and staff of the Federal Unity Colleges for their support.
The ASCSN Secretary-General, however, stressed that the suspension of the strike did not mean that the grievances that triggered the action had been abandoned.
“We reaffirm our commitment to dialogue, constructive engagement, rule of law and due process, and will participate actively and responsibly in the review process,” Acho said.
He urged union members to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the seven-member committee carries out its assignment.
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