The 155 unity colleges run by the Federal Government across the country did not resume for academic activities on Monday as parents and guardians refused to let their children and wards go back after the long holiday, occasioned by ordered strike action by the Joint Workers’ Union of Unity Schools.

The development is a fallout from the concession of Kings College, Lagos, to the Old Boys Association, which parents and others are opposed to.

Checks across the country showed that the colleges were desolate of students on Monday.

In a report, the Chairman of the Parent Teacher Association of Unity Colleges in the South-West, Mr Ayopo Somefun, said the schools would remain shut until the FG rescinds the decision to concession Kings College.

According to him, if the concession of Kings College stands, the exercise would be extended to the other unity colleges, and that would negate the reasons for setting up the schools.

At the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Bwari, on Monday, the school environment was unusually quiet as only vehicles belonging to members of staff were seen driving into the premises.

A visit to the school showed that the gate remained shut, with placards displayed at the entrance by protesting workers, while only vehicles belonging to staff members were seen entering the premises.

Some students who arrived at the school dressed in mufti were seen waiting around the gate to ascertain the situation and know how the strike would affect their resumption plans.

Some staff members who spoke anonymously declined to comment on the development, insisting that their unions were responsible for communicating their position to the public.

The protest, which has affected federal unity colleges across the country, has also attracted the support of civil society groups, with placards at the school gate carrying messages such as “An injury to one is an injury to all” and opposing any move to concession or privatise federal unity colleges.

A parent and member of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Mrs Gladys Bello, expressed disappointment over the development, saying the situation would place additional financial burden on parents if the schools were eventually privatised.

Bello warned that transferring the management of unity schools to private individuals or associations could make the schools unaffordable for many families.

“It is very unfortunate that this is happening at this moment in the country’s history. I don’t know why it is during my time as a parent that I would be experiencing this.

“When you are considering selling unity schools or handing them over to individuals or old boys’ associations, it means you are making life difficult for parents. The child of the poor man may no longer have access to these schools because school fees, tuition and other charges will definitely increase,” she said.

She added that parents were worried because students were expected to resume ahead of academic activities but could not do so due to the industrial action.

“As you can see, our children are supposed to resume today, but because of this development, honestly, we cannot resume. We are very concerned and saddened by what is happening,” Bello said.

Also, at Federal Government Boys College in Garki, returning students who arrived at the school were left stranded outside the gate as they tried to ascertain the situation and know whether the industrial action would affect their resumption.

Some students, who had come dressed in mufti, were also seen gathered around the entrance of the school, expressing uncertainty over when academic activities would commence.

One of the students said they came to the school to find out the reason for the delay and whether they would be allowed into the premises.

“Many of us came expecting that school would resume, but we discovered that things were not moving as usual. We came to know what is happening and how it will affect us,” the student said.

The closure of the schools followed the directive of the Joint Workers’ Union of Unity Schools, which ordered staff members of Federal Government Colleges across the country to embark on an indefinite strike.

The National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, has named Mrs Ramatu Ibrahim as its Acting Bursar following the killing of the Bursar, Mallam Nasiru Gusau Marafa, in Zamfara State on September 6, 2026.

The announcement was made by the Registrar of the Council, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, in an official statement released on Tuesday in Abuja by Mrs Omotola Ojudu, Acting Director of the NOUN Directorate of Media and Publicity.

Ajayi said the appointment was made to ensure continuity in the university’s financial administration and would remain in force until further notice.

He said the appointment, effective from September 8, 2026, was approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Uduma, with the concurrence of Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Malam Isa Yuguda.

Ajayi said Ibrahim’s extensive experience in the university’s financial operations positioned her to provide effective leadership and sustain efficient, transparent and accountable financial services.

He said Ibrahim, who was Deputy Bursar, Treasury, before her appointment, had served in various operational units of the Bursary Department.

According to him, she has experience in accounting, financial management, treasury operations and related administrative processes.

Ajayi said that as Deputy Bursar, Treasury, Ibrahim provided professional leadership and oversight of the university’s treasury operations.

He said the university management described the late Marafa as a dedicated and dependable officer who served the institution with commitment, professionalism and integrity.

According to him, management said Marafa’s contributions to the university’s financial administration and institutional development would be remembered with gratitude.

Expressing full confidence in Mrs Ibrahim’s integrity, diligence and expertise, the Vice-Chancellor congratulated her on the role and urged the entire university community to offer her full support during her tenure.

He said the Vice-Chancellor congratulated Ibrahim on the appointment and wished her a successful tenure.

Ajayi said the university community had been enjoined to extend the necessary cooperation and support to the Acting Bursar.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Branch, says it will continue with its ongoing indefinite strike until the state government meets its demands.

The Chairman of ASUU-AAUA, Prof. Boluwaji Oshodi, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Akure.

Oshodi was reacting to the recent approval of a 60 per cent increment in monthly subventions to the state-owned tertiary institutions and the immediate implementation of the FG/ASUU agreement to address welfare concerns by the Ondo State Government.

He stated that the union had not been officially briefed on the terms of the intervention, noting that members only learned about the development through media reports.

“For now, everything we read is still in the newspapers. Nobody has given us any official information.

“The governor has not been interacting with the union; he has only been interacting with the management.

“So, as we speak now, we do not have the facts aside from what we have been reading on the pages of newspapers,” Oshodi said.

On the possible suspension of the strike, the branch chairman maintained that the industrial action continues, stressing that the key demands of the union remain unresolved.
“The strike has just started, the way it is now, if what we are reading is true, then the issues have not been addressed.

“We have been talking about two major issues – the implementation of the FGN/ASUU 2025 agreement and the payment of salary arrears starting from January.

“The government said implementation should commence immediately, but we don’t know what that ‘immediately’ means. The issues have not been addressed,” he added.

NAN reports that ASUU-AAUA had on Aug. 11 declared a total and indefinite strike over the non-implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement and the non-payment of accumulated salary arrears owed to its members since January. (NAN)