Unity Colleges reopen as King’s College concession dispute eases

Academic activities are resuming across Nigeria’s 115 Federal Unity Colleges following the suspension of a strike by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN). The industrial action was triggered by the Federal Government’s plan to concede the management of King’s College, Lagos, to its Old Boys Association. While the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and various stakeholders expressed concerns regarding potential privatization and lack of transparency, the Federal Ministry of Education has suspended the implementation of the concession and established a seven-member committee to review the agreement.

In a separate development regarding union governance, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has officially reaffirmed Shehu Mohammed as the legitimate leader of the ASCSN. The TUC issued a circular warning against unauthorized individuals or groups attempting to represent the union, noting that a lower court judgment currently being relied upon by rival factions is under appeal. The TUC urged government agencies and employers to deal exclusively with the Mohammed-led administration to maintain industrial peace.