A check by the News Agency of Nigeria in the three states showed that students had yet to resume at the federal government colleges in the states.
Students and workers of federal unity colleges in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States on Monday stayed away from school as education unions’ strike delayed the commencement of the 2026/2027 academic session.
In Anambra, Federal Government Girls’ College, Onitsha; Federal Government College, Nise and Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Awka, were closed to academic activities.
The schools were largely quiet, with no noticeable movement of students or commencement of academic activities as of the time of NAN’s visit.
A teacher at FSTC, Awka, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that the school was affected by the strike.
She said the teachers were awaiting clear directives from the school authorities and relevant education unions before resuming.
Similarly, a parent, Georgina Alaneme, said she did not take her child to school due to uncertainty about the resumption.
“The management of the Federal Government College, Nise, sent us a message telling us they are on strike. So, we did not bother taking my child to school on Sunday,” she said.
It was a similar situation in Enugu State as education unions in the state grounded academic activities at the Federal Government College, Enugu, over the alleged planned sale of federal unity colleges.
A NAN correspondent who visited the school at the Independence Layout, Enugu, on Monday, reports that the school was completely shut down.
NAN also recalls that the federal government had directed students of the unity colleges nationwide to resume on Monday, 14 September.
However, education unions opposed the resumption amid controversy surrounding the concession of King’s College, Lagos.
A teacher at the school, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that both teachers and students were chased away from the school.
“We resumed school as usual, but suddenly, union members arrived and chased us away and locked the entrance gate, preventing people from entering the school.
“We heard that the federal government is planning to sell unity schools, as they started with King’s College, Lagos,” she said.
Another parent, Victoria Omenazu, whose child is a boarding student in the school, said they were turned back on Sunday when they came to the school ahead of the Monday resumption.
Mrs Omenazu said they were told that a new resumption date would be announced to them later.
“I wonder why the government wants to concession the unity schools which unite the country.
Federal Government Colleges remain the best and most affordable option compared to private schools. This is unfair,” she said.
She appealed to the government to rescind the decision on the concession.
In Ebonyi, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools directed its members at Federal Government Girls’ College, Ezzamgbo, to disregard the federal government’s directive on the resumption of unity schools.
The union also urged the federal government to reverse its planned move to sell King’s College, Lagos and other unity schools.
NAN reports that the unity schools in Ebonyi remained shut on Monday despite the federal government’s directive for students and staff to resume on 14 September.
NAN’s checks at some of the schools showed that many staff members were not allowed into the premises as the gates remained locked on the orders of the union leaders.
Other federal unity schools in the state include Federal Government College, Okposi, and Federal Science and Technical College, Amuzu.
The development followed controversy surrounding the federal government’s reported plan to sell, concession or privatise some federal unity colleges, including King’s College, Lagos.
The proposed policy has generated opposition from parents, education unions and other stakeholders, who have expressed concerns about its potential implications for access to quality, affordable secondary education.
The Unit Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools at Federal Government Girls’ College, Ezzamgbo, Rachael Benson-Ogbu, said in a notice issued on Monday that the directive of “no resumption” remained in force.
Mrs Benson-Ogbu said the decision followed consultations with the union’s national headquarters in Abuja on Sunday night.
According to the notice, the status quo remains pending further deliberations between the union and officials of the Federal Ministry of Education.
