<\/p>\n
Strike<\/p>\n
By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu<\/p>\n
Awka<\/p>\n
Students and workers of Federal Unity Colleges in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States on Monday stayed away from school as education unions\u2019 strike delayed the commencement of the 2026\/2027 academic session.<\/p>\n
A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the three states showed that students had yet to resume at the Federal Government Colleges in the states.<\/p>\n
In Anambra, Federal Government Girls\u2019 College, Onitsha; Federal Government College, Nise and Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Awka were closed to academic activities.<\/p>\n
The schools were largely quiet, with no noticeable movement of students or commencement of academic activities as of the time of NAN\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n
A teacher at FSTC, Awka, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that the school was affected by the strike.<\/p>\n
She said the teachers were awaiting clear directives from the school authorities and relevant education unions before resuming.<\/p>\n
Similarly, a parent, Mrs Georgina Alaneme, said she did not take her child to school because of the uncertainty surrounding the resumption.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
It was a similar situation in Enugu State as\u00a0 Education unions in the state grounded academic activities at the Federal Government College (FGC), Enugu over the alleged planned sale of Federal Unity Colleges.<\/p>\n
NAN correspondent who visited the school at the Independence Layout, Enugu, on Monday, reports that the school was under lock and key.<\/p>\n
NAN also recalls that the Federal Government had directed students of Federal Unity Colleges nationwide to resume on Monday, Sept. 14.<\/p>\n
However, education unions opposed the resumption amid controversy surrounding the concession of King\u2019s College, Lagos.<\/p>\n
A teacher at the school, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that both teachers and students were chased away from the school.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe resumed school as usual, but suddenly, the union members arrived and chased us away and locked the entrance gate, preventing people from entering the school.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe heard that the Federal Government is planning to sell Unity Schools, as they started with King\u2019s College, Lagos,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Another parent, Mrs Victoria Omenazu, whose child is a boarder in the school,\u00a0 said that they were turned back on Sunday when they came to the school ahead of Monday resumption.<\/p>\n
Omenazu said that they were told that a new resumption date would be announced to them later.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wonder why the government wants to concession the unity schools which unite the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cFederal Government Colleges are still the best and affordable compared to private schools.\u00a0 This is unfair,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She appealed to the government to rescind the decision on the concession.<\/p>\n
In Ebonyi, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASCSN) directed its members in Federal Government Girls\u2019 College (FGGC), Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi, to disregard the Federal Government\u2019s directive on the resumption of schools in Federal Unity Schools.<\/p>\n
The Union also urged the federal government to reverse its planned move to sell King\u2019s College, Lagos and other unity schools.<\/p>\n
NAN reports that the Unity Schools in Ebonyi remained shut on Monday, with their gates under lock and key, in spite of the Federal Government\u2019s directive for students and staff to resume on Sept. 14.<\/p>\n
NAN\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Other Federal Unity Schools in the state include Federal Government College (FGC), Okposi, and Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Amuzu.<\/p>\n
The development followed controversy surrounding the Federal Government\u2019s reported plan to sell, concession or privatise some Federal Unity Colleges, including King\u2019s College, Lagos.<\/p>\n
The proposed policy has generated opposition from parents, education-sector unions and other stakeholders, who expressed concerns over its possible implications for access to quality and affordable secondary education.<\/p>\n
The Unit Chairman of ASCSN at FGGC Ezzamgbo, Mrs Rachael Benson-Ogbu, said in a notice issued on Monday, that the directive of \u201cNo Resumption\u201d remained in force.<\/p>\n
Benson-Ogbu said the decision followed consultations with the union\u2019s national headquarters in Abuja on Sunday night.<\/p>\n
According to the notice, the status quo remains the same pending further deliberations between the union and officials of the Federal Ministry of Education.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe union will meet with ministry officials on Monday to deliberate on the situation and determine the next line of action.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, no staff or student should be allowed into the school premises from Monday, Sept. 14, except resident staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe school gate shall remain firmly closed until further directive,\u201d the notice stated.<\/p>\n
She, therefore, directed members of the union to converge at the school gate to ensure compliance with the directive and demonstrate what she described as their collective resolve.<\/p>\n
Mr Jacob Nwankwo, a parent at FGC, Okposi, expressed concern over the Federal Government\u2019s reported move to sell King\u2019s College and other Unity Schools across the country.<\/p>\n
Nwankwo, however, urged the Federal Government to reconsider and cancel any such plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe institutions represent an important part of Nigeria\u2019s educational heritage and should continue to be managed as public schools for the benefit of future generations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Another ASCSN leader at FGC Okposi, who declined to give his name, urged members to remain united, disciplined and committed to the struggle.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur collective strength lies in our unity and unwavering commitment to the cause,\u201d the union leader said.<\/p>\n
Ijeoma Michael, an SS2 student of FGC Okposi, said she was unhappy that her school had not resumed after the long vacation.<\/p>\n
Michael urged the union and the Federal Government to reach an agreement to ensure that the schools were reopened for academic activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I don\u2019t really know why our school, FGGC Ezzamgbo, did not open, but I overheard my mum saying that it was due to a disagreement between the Federal Government and the union leaders,\u201d she said. (NAN)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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