The federal government’s planned concession of King’s College in Lagos to its old boys’ association disrupted the resumption of students in Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
The development left students in several government-run unity colleges at home after the Joint Congress of Unions in the Federal Ministry of Education insisted that no resumption should take place until the government reverses the concession.
Checks by our correspondents showed that several colleges remained deserted, while parents in different parts of the country either kept their children at home or turned back from schools after learning of the workers’ position.
The unions warned that the King’s College arrangement could pave the way for the transfer of other public unity colleges to private interests, which they said would undermine the purpose for which the institutions were established.
The development put the workers on a collision course with the Federal Ministry of Education.
However, later yesterday evening, the colleges were directed to resume academic activities immediately following a meeting by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other stakeholders.
The dispute centres on the federal government’s decision to hand over the management of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) under a 35-year concession arrangement.
The concession has triggered opposition from workers, parents and other stakeholders who fear that it could affect the ownership, funding, affordability and future administration of the 116-year-old institution.
In a letter dated September 4, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Education confirmed that the concession had been concluded and directed the principal to commence the handover process.
The ministry said a transition committee would complete the transfer of management to KCOBA within six months, after which federal government funding from the Federation Account would cease.
It also directed the principal to provide the committee with a list of staff willing to remain in the employment of the Federal Civil Service Commission.
The development led to a shutdown of the school by workers, with the King’s College PTA raising concerns over the effect of the arrangement on existing students.
The PTA argued that students admitted into King’s College as a federal government institution should be allowed to complete their education under the existing arrangement.