King’s College: Unity Colleges Staff Defy FG Resumption Order

Staff of Federal Unity Colleges nationwide have defied the Federal Government’s directive to resume academic activities, insisting that their indefinite strike over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, remains in force.

The development followed a September 18 directive from the Federal Ministry of Education ordering principals of the Unity Colleges to resume academic activities after the government said it had reached an agreement with labour unions.

However, workers under the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria maintained that the dispute had not been resolved and directed members to continue the industrial action.

The dispute centres on the proposed management concession of the 117-year-old King’s College, Lagos, to its Old Boys’ Association for 35 years.

The Federal Government had agreed to suspend implementation of the concession for two weeks to allow a seven-member committee comprising government, labour and Old Boys’ Association representatives to review the arrangement.

The agreement was expected to pave the way for the suspension of the strike and resumption of academic activities.

However, a faction of the union subsequently directed workers in Federal Unity Colleges to remain on indefinite strike, citing disagreements over the process and terms of the government’s engagement with labour.

At King’s College, Lagos, the ASCSN chapter chairman, Sam Enang, said students had not resumed and staff remained on strike.

He said the union had directed workers across the Federal Unity Colleges to stay away from academic and administrative activities until the issues surrounding the concession were reversed or resolved.

During visits to some Unity Colleges in Lagos and Ibadan, union members were reportedly seen around school premises while students remained at home.

The situation has created uncertainty for parents and students as the 2026/2027 academic session remains disrupted in the affected institutions.

The disagreement has also exposed divisions within the ASCSN, with different factions issuing conflicting directives over the suspension or continuation of the industrial action.

The Federal Government has maintained that its engagement with labour produced an agreement to suspend the strike while the proposed concession is reviewed.

The unions opposing the arrangement, however, insist that the issues that triggered the industrial action have not been adequately addressed.

The controversy has also generated concern among parents over the prolonged closure of the schools and the effect on students’ academic activities.

The government’s two-week review process is expected to provide an avenue for stakeholders to examine the proposed concession, address workers’ concerns and determine the next steps regarding King’s College.

Until the dispute is resolved, academic activities remain disrupted across the affected Federal Unity Colleges.