Nigeria Unity College workers suspend strike over King’s College concession

Workers at Nigeria’s Federal Unity Colleges have suspended a two-week strike following an agreement to halt the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, to its Old Boys’ Association. The suspension follows a meeting between the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), and government representatives.

A seven-member committee, which includes two ASCSN representatives, has been established to review the concession agreement. The industrial action was initially triggered by concerns that the 50-year concession would effectively privatize the 117-year-old institution and undermine the public Unity College system.

Education Minister Tunji Alausa stated that the concession was intended to address severe infrastructure decay by mobilizing resources through the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) without transferring government ownership. While the KCOBA maintains the arrangement is for management and restoration, protesters had previously clashed with association members on school premises.

The suspension of the strike clears the way for the reopening of 115 Unity Schools nationwide. The Parent Teacher Association has proposed September 27 as the new resumption date for students.