Unity Colleges workers defy FG’s resumption directive over King’s College concession

According to Enang, staff had been instructed to remain on strike until the situation surrounding the King’s College concession was reversed.

He also said the industrial action extended beyond King’s College to all 115 Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

“All Unity Colleges, they are on indefinite strike as I’m talking to you, because of King’s College. And this notice has gone across all six geopolitical zones, and the 115 Unity Colleges we have across the country. No school has resumed,” he said.

Enang added that students did not turn up at King’s College despite the government’s resumption directive, attributing the development partly to communication between the union and parents.

“The students did not show up at all. They did not show up at all,” he said.

He explained that the union had used its communication platforms to advise parents against sending their children to school while the dispute remained unresolved.

According to him, the earlier deployment of police personnel to the college and the confrontation involving security officers and protesting workers were among the reasons the union decided to maintain the strike.

Enang said the policemen had since left the school premises after spending about two to three days there. He also alleged that parts of the school gates were damaged during the confrontation.

At the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, the ASCSN chairman, Ayo Hundeyin, also confirmed that workers had not resumed.

“We have not resumed. The pupils are at home. We have not called off the strike,” Hundeyin said.

He said workers were additionally concerned about reports of possible arrangements involving other Unity Colleges, citing institutions in Kano, Port Harcourt and Ilorin.

“We are aware that there are similar plans to hand over Unity Colleges in Kano, Port Harcourt, and Ilorin. The education of our children is our priority, and we won’t support any privatisation of our schools,” he said.

The dispute over King’s College began after the Federal Government announced plans to concession the management of the 117-year-old institution to its Old Boys’ Association under a public-private partnership arrangement.

Workers have opposed the proposal, arguing against the involvement of private interests in the management of the Federal Government-owned school.

The Federal Government, however, has consistently rejected claims that King’s College is being sold or privatised, maintaining that ownership of the institution remains with the government.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has also described the King’s College arrangement as a standalone initiative and said it would not be extended to other Unity Colleges.

“No. We’re not extending it. The government still has its responsibility,” Alausa said.

He said the Federal Government remained committed to directly funding the rehabilitation of other Unity Colleges while considering alternative financing options to address their infrastructure challenges.

Credit: THE PUNCH.