The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and the Joint Congress of Unions of the Federal Ministry of Education have declared a nationwide shutdown of all 115 Federal Unity Colleges unless their demands are met by the Federal Government. With the original resumption date for the 2026/2027 academic session set for tomorrow, the unions have issued a strong directive for all educational workers to disregard any government orders to reopen schools.

The unions have laid out two critical conditions that must be fulfilled to lift the shutdown: an immediate cessation of the controversial concession process involving King’s College, Lagos, and an official invitation for a transparent dialogue from the Federal Government. This industrial action is described as “total, absolute, and unchanged,” reflecting the unions' determination to protect public education from what they perceive as detrimental government policies.

Mr. Samuel Enang, the ASCSN Unit Chairman for King’s College, articulated the unions' stance, emphasizing that the strike is a defensive measure aimed at safeguarding public education in Nigeria. He highlighted the broader implications of the Federal Executive Council's (FEC) decision to concession King’s College, warning that such moves could lead to the privatization of other Federal Government Colleges across the country. "If they succeed with King’s College today, every other Federal Government College in Nigeria will be sold to private interests tomorrow," Enang stated.

The unions have expressed their disappointment with the Ministry of Education's decision to bypass a previously established joint committee that was set up to address the decay of school infrastructure. They argue that the unilateral approval to concession King’s College undermines the integrity of public education and sets a dangerous precedent for similar actions in the future.

In light of the impending academic disruption, the unions have apologized to parents and guardians for the inconvenience caused but remain firm in their stance. They have urged members to resist any forms of intimidation or threats from ministry management regarding the strike. Until their terms are met, the gates of all Federal Unity Colleges will remain locked, marking a significant stand in the ongoing fight for the future of public education in Nigeria.