Unity Colleges reopen after suspension of strike over King’s College concession

The incident deepened the disagreement, with the staff union calling on the Federal Government to withdraw the police from the school.

Amid the standoff, the Federal Government suspended implementation of the concession agreement and established a seven-member committee to review the document.

The dispute had intensified after the Federal Ministry of Education issued a letter on September 4 directing the immediate handover of King’s College to the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA), following the conclusion of the concession agreement.

However, on September 16, the Federal Government and organised labour reached an agreement to suspend implementation of the arrangement for two weeks while the committee examined the concession document.

ASCSN had argued that the proposed arrangement could have implications for the future of the Federal Unity College system.

The government, however, has maintained that the concession does not amount to the sale or privatisation of King’s College.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the Federal Government would retain legal ownership of the 117-year-old institution, while KCOBA would be responsible for funding, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the school.