Staff of Nigeria’s Federal Unity Colleges have continued an indefinite strike, openly defying a recent federal government directive that ordered them to resume duties. The industrial action is being maintained in protest over the concession granted to King’s College.
The strike began after the government’s decision to concede King’s College, a move that staff of the Unity Colleges say undermines the principles of equity and access that the federal school system was founded on. Union representatives have described the concession as a breach of the agreed terms governing federal educational institutions.
In response, the Federal Government issued an order demanding that all Unity College staff return to work immediately. Despite the directive, teachers and other personnel across the network of Unity Colleges have refused to comply, opting to sustain the strike until their concerns are addressed.
Federal Unity Colleges, established to promote national integration and provide quality secondary education across the country, are now facing disruptions to academic programmes and administrative functions as the strike persists.
As of now, no resolution has been reached, and the strike remains indefinite. Both the government and the striking staff have yet to announce any forthcoming negotiations or timelines for a possible return to normal operations.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
