Academic activities have resumed at Nigeria’s Federal Unity Colleges following the suspension of the strike by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) over the Federal Government’s concession of King’s College, Lagos.
Day students began returning to their respective schools on Monday, while boarding students started arriving on Sunday ahead of the new academic session.
Principals of the colleges had, at the weekend, issued notices welcoming students to the 2026/2027 session.
One of the notices read: “A new term, a new beginning. Happy resumption.
“I welcome you all, the management, staff, students and parents, to the 2026/2027 academic session.
“May this session bring every student greater confidence, deeper knowledge, excellent results and memorable achievements.”
Boarding students were also seen arriving at Unity Colleges in Lagos on Sunday.
The resumption came at least two weeks after students in other schools began the 2026/2027 academic session on 13 September.
Dispute over King’s College concession
The delay followed opposition by the staff union to the Federal Government’s decision to concession King’s College to the institution’s Old Boys Association.
The ASCSN, alongside the Parent-Teacher Association, subsequently directed Federal Unity Colleges nationwide to remain closed in solidarity with King’s College staff and to shun resumption.
Tensions escalated when members of the King’s College Old Boys Association, amid a police presence, entered the school after protesting staff had blocked access.
The development heightened the dispute, with the ASCSN demanding that the Federal Government withdraw the police from the school.
Amid the standoff, the Federal Government suspended the implementation of the King’s College concession and constituted a seven-member committee to review the concession agreement.
The dispute intensified after the Federal Ministry of Education, in a letter dated 4 September, directed the immediate handover of King’s College to the Old Boys Association following the conclusion of the concession agreement.
On 16 September, the Federal Government and organised labour agreed to suspend implementation of the concession for two weeks.
Government defends arrangement
The ASCSN had argued that the concession posed a threat to the future of the Federal Unity College system.
The government, however, maintained that the arrangement did not amount to the sale or privatisation of King’s College.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the Federal Government would retain legal ownership of the 117-year-old institution.
Under the arrangement, the King’s College Old Boys Association would be responsible for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the school, while ownership would remain with the government.
With the suspension of the industrial action, students have now returned to the Unity Colleges as the government and stakeholders continue to address the issues surrounding the King’s College concession.
