Unity Schools Teachers Warn of Potential Shutdown Over Unfulfilled Demands

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has warned the Federal Government to resolve its grievances or face a nationwide shutdown of Unity Schools.

The 21-day ultimatum signals rising tensions as unresolved welfare issues threaten to disrupt operations across the 110 Federal Government Colleges, commonly known as Unity Schools in the country.
In a letter dated January 23, 2025 and signed by ASCSN Secretary General Joshua Apebo, the union expressed deep frustration over the ministry’s continued silence on welfare demands raised as far back as 2023. Repeated efforts to initiate dialogue, including letters and calls, have been met with no response, the union said.“Enough is enough,” the letter declared. “Since all efforts to bring the Federal Ministry of Education to the dialogue table have been frustrated, and the national leadership of the association can no longer contain the restiveness of its members, no further notice will be given after the 21-day ultimatum expires. At that point, industrial action will commence.”

The looming strike would not only affect the 110 Unity Schools but also the Federal Education Quality Assurance Service (FEQAS), the body responsible for monitoring and improving the quality of education nationwide.

The Core Demands

The ASCSN’s demands paint a picture of systemic neglect:

1. Payment of Arrears: The union is demanding the immediate settlement of promotion, salary, and elongation arrears owed to its members.
2. Structural Reform: They seek the disarticulation of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) to create promotion opportunities for education officers at the directorate level.
3. Compensation for Displaced Officers: Education officers displaced by insurgency in the North-East are yet to receive their due allowances.
4. Regularisation of PTA Teachers: The union demands the formal appointment of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers, who have filled critical staffing gaps but remain unrecognized.
5. Scholarships for Children of Education Officers: The union is pushing for the implementation of a directive issued by former President Muhammadu Buhari, which provides scholarships for children of education officers in the schools where their parents work.
6. Representation in School Management: The union is calling for its units in Unity Schools to be included in School-Based Management Committees to ensure they have a voice in key decisions.
7. Quarterly Meetings: Resuming regular meetings with the government to address members’ welfare concerns is another key demand.

The union emphasized that the strike is not their goal but a last resort. They urged stakeholders to pressure the Ministry of Education to engage in dialogue before the ultimatum expires.

“All stakeholders are urged to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Education to embrace dialogue now instead of waiting for the industrial actions to start, only to begin pleading with the union to sheath its sword,” the letter warned.

Unity Schools, a cornerstone of Nigeria’s educational system, serve as a symbol of national unity and academic excellence. A shutdown could disrupt the education of thousands of students, many of whom are preparing for critical exams.

For parents, the strike threat has stirred anxiety. “We can’t afford another disruption,” said a concerned parent in Lagos. “Our children’s education is at stake, and the government must act swiftly.”

As the 21-day clock ticks, all eyes are on the Federal Ministry of Education. Will they act to avert a crisis, or will silence push the nation’s Unity Schools into chaos?

For now, the ASCSN has made its position clear: “We are ready to act if our voices continue to be ignored.” The ball is firmly in the government’s court.