Teachers in Federal Unity Colleges have been directed to return to the classrooms and resume academic activities following the suspension of an industrial action by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN).
Gatekeepers News reports that the directive is expected to ease disruptions that affected the reopening of the colleges for the first term after workers under the Joint Workers Committee of Unions (JWC) of the Federal Ministry of Education embarked on industrial action.
ASCSN, which represents a significant number of workers in the ministry, including teachers in the 117 Federal Unity Colleges, had joined the action over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, as well as other grievances against the Federal Ministry of Education.
In a statement on Friday, ASCSN Secretary-General, Comrade Gamaliel Acho, said the union suspended the action following a conciliatory meeting with the Federal Ministry of Education and other organised labour unions on September 17, 2026.
He said the meeting agreed to place the proposed concession of King’s College on hold for two weeks to allow for further consultation and review.
According to him, a seven-man high-level committee comprising representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, organised labour, the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) and the Federal Ministry of Labour has been constituted to review the concession agreement and related issues.
“The Committee is expected to submit its report and recommendations within two weeks,” Acho said.
He added that ASCSN had consequently directed its members to suspend the industrial action pending the outcome of the review, in line with the signed communiqué.
Acho commended the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa; Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad; the Acting Permanent Secretary, directors and other ministry officials for engaging with the unions and addressing their concerns.
He also disclosed that Alausa had offered an “unreserved apology” over what the union described as inadequate prior engagement with affected ASCSN stakeholders.
The ASCSN secretary-general praised the Joint Workers Committee of Unions for its “determination, resilience and solidarity,” while also commending the Parent-Teacher Association of King’s College, Lagos, as well as staff and union members of the 117 Federal Unity Colleges for their support.
Acho further disclosed that the police detachment deployed to King’s College had been withdrawn and that the parties had agreed that no staff member would be victimised, harassed, sanctioned or punished for participating in the industrial action.
“ASCSN notes the immediate withdrawal of the police detachment deployed to King’s College, Lagos, and the agreement that no staff member shall be victimised, harassed, sanctioned or punished for participating in the industrial action,” he said.
He said the union remained committed to dialogue and the peaceful resolution of the dispute.
“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 members and other stakeholders to remain calm and maintain industrial peace, stressing that the suspension of the industrial action did not mean the issues that triggered the protest had been abandoned.
Meanwhile, labour unions have concluded plans to visit King’s College as part of their fact-finding exercise. The visit is expected to enable the unions to assess the institution’s infrastructure, examine concerns surrounding the proposed concession and obtain firsthand information ahead of the committee’s review.
The development follows concerns among parents over disruptions to academic activities, with some Federal Unity Colleges reportedly unable to fully resume despite directives from the Federal Ministry of Education.
The dispute intensified in recent days after the JWC accused the ministry of taking decisions without adequate consultation with the unions, particularly regarding the proposed concession of King’s College. The unions also raised concerns about the ministry’s management and other administrative matters.
With ASCSN directing teachers to resume classes, attention will now shift to the seven-man committee, which has two weeks to review the proposed concession and submit its recommendations.
The committee’s findings are expected to shape the next phase of the dispute over the future of King’s College, Lagos.
