Federal Unity Schools in Rivers Remain Closed as Workers’ Protest Disrupts Resumption

The new academic session has not begun as planned for students of three Federal Unity Colleges in Rivers State, as a workers’ protest has kept the schools closed.

The affected schools are Federal Government College, Port Harcourt; Federal Government Girls’ College, Abuloma; and Federal Science and Technology College, Ahoada.

The schools remained closed on Monday and Tuesday, September 14 and 15, despite the scheduled commencement of the 2026/2027 academic session. Students and parents who arrived for resumption were unable to gain access to the school premises.

What Is Happening?

The disruption is linked to a nationwide dispute involving workers in the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Government over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, to its Old Boys’ Association.

Education-sector unions had directed workers in Federal Unity Colleges not to resume academic activities, resulting in the disruption of school activities across the country.

The unions have raised objections to the proposed arrangement and have called for greater consultation with workers and other stakeholders.

The Federal Government, however, has maintained that the King’s College arrangement is a concession rather than a sale of the school.

According to information reported by Premium Times from the Federal Ministry of Education, the government says it would retain ownership and oversight of King’s College under the proposed arrangement, while the Old Boys’ Association would be responsible for rehabilitation, operation and maintenance.

The disagreement has consequently moved beyond King’s College itself and affected the reopening of Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

What Does This Mean for Students in Rivers?

For students of the three affected Rivers schools, the immediate issue is the interruption of the new academic session.

Parents who had prepared their children for resumption were confronted with closed school gates, creating uncertainty around when normal academic activities would begin.

At Federal Government Girls’ College, Abuloma, the Parent-Teacher Association confirmed that the school remained inaccessible because of the workers’ protest.

The PTA chairman, Ominini Bibi, appealed to parents and guardians to remain patient while the situation was being resolved. He also explained that the PTA had waited for confirmed information before communicating with parents in order to avoid spreading unverified information and causing unnecessary anxiety.

"The PTA waited for confirmed information before communicating with parents in order to avoid spreading unverified information and causing unnecessary anxiety."

That point is particularly important at a time when information about school resumption can move quickly through WhatsApp groups and social media.

The Wider Dispute

The disagreement centres on the Federal Government's proposed 35-year concession of King’s College, Lagos, to its Old Boys’ Association.

Workers' unions have opposed the arrangement and questioned aspects of the government's approach to the management of federal schools. Their industrial action subsequently disrupted the scheduled reopening of Federal Unity Colleges.

The Federal Government has presented a different position.

The Ministry of Education has said that ownership of King’s College would remain with the Federal Government and that existing admission arrangements would continue. It has also said that workers currently employed by the government would retain their civil-service status, subject to the arrangements surrounding the transition.

The dispute therefore involves more than the reopening of schools. It has raised broader questions about how public educational institutions are managed, funded, rehabilitated and operated.

What Parents Should Know

For parents whose children attend the affected Federal Unity Colleges in Rivers State, the most important thing at this point is to rely on confirmed information from the school, PTA and relevant government authorities rather than forwarded messages whose source cannot be established.

The situation has already demonstrated how quickly uncertainty around school operations can create anxiety for families.

Parents should therefore watch for official communication concerning the next resumption date and any arrangements made for students affected by the disruption.

Port Harcourt Schools Will Keep Watching

For students and families, the priority is straightforward: they want to know when school will reopen.

For education stakeholders, however, the situation raises a much larger question about the relationship between government, school workers, school communities and alternative models for managing public educational institutions.

As discussions between the Federal Government and labour representatives continue, the education community will be watching closely for developments that could determine when normal academic activities resume.

Port Harcourt Schools will continue to follow the situation and provide verified updates as they become available.