COEASU declares total academic shutdown at FCE Eha-Amufu, warns of indefinite strike as tensions escalate over unresolved welfare and administrative disputes.
By Ndidi Ogaenyi / June 4, 2026
Enugu State, Nigeria — Academic activities at the Federal College of Education (FCE), Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, have been abruptly suspended following the declaration of a two-week warning strike by the institution’s chapter of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).
The union accused the college management, led by the Provost, of failing to address long-standing grievances despite prior warnings and formal ultimatum processes.
The shutdown marks a fresh escalation in industrial tensions within Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, with lecturers warning that the action could extend into an indefinite strike if unresolved.
INDUSTRIAL ACTION DECLARED AFTER DEADLINE EXPIRES
According to official union documentation obtained from the chapter leadership, the decision to embark on strike followed an emergency congress held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
The lecturers said management was earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum on May 21, 2026, outlining what they described as “festering issues” affecting staff welfare, administration, and institutional governance.
The union maintained that the ultimatum expired without meaningful engagement or resolution from the Provost or her management team.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST COLLEGE MANAGEMENT
COEASU accused the institution’s leadership of failing to respond constructively to repeated attempts at dialogue, alleging deliberate disregard for union demands.
In the notice, the union expressed “deep disappointment” over what it described as administrative inaction, insisting that all statutory procedures under Nigerian labour laws had been exhausted before resorting to strike action.
Union leaders argue that the unresolved issues have persisted for months, affecting morale, academic delivery, and staff welfare across departments.
STRIKE DETAILS AND COMPLIANCE ENFORCEMENT
The warning strike officially commenced on June 3, 2026, with the union confirming a total suspension of lectures, examinations, and academic-related activities.
To enforce compliance, COEASU announced the creation of a monitoring team tasked with ensuring strict adherence across all academic departments.
Union leadership warned that no form of academic engagement would be tolerated during the strike period, describing the action as necessary to press home their demands.
POSSIBLE ESCALATION TO INDEFINITE SHUTDOWN
The union further warned that failure by management to resolve the outstanding issues within the two-week window could trigger a full-scale and indefinite closure of the institution.
According to the leadership, the current action is a “warning phase” designed to compel urgent intervention from relevant authorities.
GOVERNMENT AND SECURITY AUTHORITIES NOTIFIED
In anticipation of possible tensions, the strike notice was formally copied to key stakeholders, including:
- The Minister of Education
- Chairman, Governing Council of FCE Eha-Amufu
- The Registrar of the College
- Students’ Union Government leadership
- Chief Security Officer of the institution
- DSS office in Isi-Uzo LGA
The union stated that the notifications were intended to ensure transparency and prevent misinformation or interference during the industrial action.
UNION LEADERSHIP STATEMENT
The strike notice was jointly signed by:
- Comrade Chidi Nathaniel Agbo (Chairman)
- Comrade Nwachukwu Simon Amadi (Secretary)
They reiterated that the action complies fully with provisions of the Nigerian Labour Act governing industrial disputes.
IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The strike is expected to disrupt lectures, assessments, and ongoing academic schedules at the institution, potentially affecting thousands of students.
Stakeholders are now awaiting a response from the college management and the Federal Ministry of Education on possible intervention measures.
The escalation at FCE Eha-Amufu reflects broader tensions within Nigeria’s tertiary education system, where recurring disputes over welfare, governance, and funding continue to trigger industrial actions.
With both sides entrenched, the next two weeks will determine whether dialogue resumes or the institution moves into a prolonged shutdown.
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