Unity Colleges Face Resumption Uncertainty As Unions Suspend Opening, FG Insists On Monday

There is uncertainty over the resumption of students in Federal Unity Colleges across Nigeria as education workers and the Federal Government issued conflicting directives on the commencement of the new academic session.

The Joint Congress of Unions of the Federal Ministry of Education directed that students should not resume as scheduled, in protest against the 35-year concession of King’s College, Lagos, to its old boys association.

In a communiqué dated September 10, the unions directed that the first-term session in more than 100 Federal Unity Colleges should be suspended indefinitely.

The directive covers Federal Government Colleges, Federal Government Boys’ and Girls’ Colleges, as well as Federal Technical Colleges across the country.

The unions consequently advised parents and students to remain at home pending further directives, effectively putting Saturday’s planned resumption on hold.

However, the Federal Government has rejected the directive and insisted that all Federal Unity Colleges will resume on Monday, September 14, as originally scheduled.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said in a statement that necessary arrangements had been concluded for the safe and smooth commencement of the 2026/2027 academic session.

Alausa also disclosed that security agencies had been placed on heightened vigilance around Unity Colleges nationwide.

The minister directed the management of the affected schools to work closely with security agencies to ensure an orderly and secure resumption.

The conflicting directives have therefore left parents and students facing uncertainty over whether to proceed with preparations for Monday’s resumption or await further communication from the unions.

The dispute centres on the Federal Government’s decision to grant a 35-year concession for the management of King’s College, Lagos, a development the education unions have strongly opposed.