King’s College dispute: Unity Colleges resume

Academic activities at Unity Colleges resumed today following the suspension of a strike called by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCNS) over the concession of King's College, Lagos. The resumption of day students took place on the same day, while boarding students began arriving on Sunday. Principals had sent out notices welcoming students for the new academic session, stating that the new term brings greater confidence, deeper knowledge, excellent results, and memorable achievements.

The resumption was delayed by two weeks due to the staff union's rejection of the Federal Government's concession of King's College to the Old Boys Association. The union, along with the Parent-Teacher Association, directed Unity Colleges nationwide to support King's College and refrain from resuming. The impasse escalated when King's College Old Boys, with the presence of police, entered the college despite the protesting staff blocking their entry.

The tension led the staff union to demand that the Federal Government order the police to remove themselves from King's College.

The Federal Government temporarily halted the King's College concession and established a seven-man committee to review the concession document. The dispute intensified after the Federal Ministry of Education, in a letter dated September 4, ordered the immediate handover of King's College to the Old Boys Association following the conclusion of the concession agreement.

On September 16, both the Federal Government and organized labour reached an agreement to pause the implementation of the King's College concession for two weeks.