The new academic session in Nigeria’s Federal Unity Colleges has been thrown into uncertainty following a directive by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) ordering the immediate closure of the schools nationwide.
The union directed that students should not resume for the new academic session from September 14, 2026, until further notice, while also ordering the closure of offices of the Federal Ministry of Education.
The directive, contained in a statement dated September 11 and signed by ASCSN Chairman, Comrade Samson Chigozie Ngadi, instructed unit chairmen across the affected institutions to ensure full compliance.
The development is linked to the union’s opposition to the Federal Government’s proposed concession arrangements involving the Federal Unity Colleges.
ASCSN said its position followed an earlier congress where members resolved that the planned concession of the schools should be reversed.
The latest directive could disrupt preparations for the new academic year, leaving thousands of students, parents and school administrators uncertain about when normal academic activities will resume.
The union also warned that intimidation or threats would not force its members to abandon their position, signalling a possible prolonged standoff between the workers and the Federal Government.
ASCSN maintained that the action was a collective struggle and urged its members to remain committed to the shutdown until its demands are addressed.
With the September 14 deadline approaching, attention is now shifting to the Federal Government’s response and whether the dispute will be resolved before the disruption affects the broader academic calendar of the Federal Unity Colleges.
