By Our Reporter
THE JOINT Congress of Unions of the Federal Ministry of Education has suspended the resumption of students for the first term academic session in all Federal Unity Colleges across Nigeria, citing the Federal Government’s concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA).
The unions announced the decision in a communiqué dated September 10, 2026, directing that there should be no resumption in the affected schools “until further notice.”
The development is likely to affect students and parents preparing for the commencement of the new academic session, which the unions said had been scheduled for Saturday.
The Joint Congress of Unions, which said it comprises “all recognized staff unions” across the Federal Ministry of Education, described the concession of King’s College as unacceptable and said its decision to suspend resumption was taken in opposition to what it called the planned privatisation of public educational institutions.
The communiqué, addressed to parents, guardians, School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), community leaders and the general public, stated that the suspension covers all categories of Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
It specifically listed Federal Government Colleges, Federal Government Boys’ Colleges, Federal Government Girls’ Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges.
“Resumption for the First Term academic session, earlier slated for Saturday this week, in all Federal Unity Colleges across the country comprising Federal Government Colleges, Federal Government Boys’ Colleges, Federal Government Girls’ Colleges, and Federal Technical Colleges has been SUSPENDED NATIONWIDE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE,” the unions declared.
Rejection of King’s College Concession
At the centre of the dispute is the Federal Government’s decision to concession King’s College, Lagos, to KCOBA.
According to a letter from the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, dated September 4, 2026 and addressed to the Principal of King’s College, the concession process had been concluded.
The letter, obtained by National Record, and signed by Dr. (Mrs.) O. F. Olatunji-David, Director Overseeing Office of the Permanent Secretary, for the Honourable Minister, informed the Principal that “following the conclusion of all necessary processes up to the signing of Concession Agreement, King’s College, Lagos has been concessioned to King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA).”
The Ministry further stated that arrangements had been completed to transfer the management of the school to KCOBA with immediate effect.
“Consequently, the Ministry has concluded all necessary arrangements to hand over the College to King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) with immediate effect for the implementation of the agreement therein including the constitution of a Transition Committee,” the letter said.
The Transition Committee, according to the Ministry, is expected to oversee the change in management over a six-month period.
“The Transition Committee is to ensure a seamless transition of the College Management to KCOBA within Six (6) months after which funding of the College from Federation Account will be stopped,” the Ministry stated.
The arrangement has, however, triggered strong opposition from the education ministry unions, who said the concession represents a step towards the privatisation of Federal Unity Colleges.
The Joint Congress stated categorically that it “vehemently rejects” the concession and that its opposition extends beyond King’s College.
“The Union and staff of the Federal Ministry of Education across Nigeria firmly oppose the sale, concession, or privatization of King’s College, Lagos, or any other Federal Unity College in Nigeria,” the communiqué stated.
Minister Accused of Refusing Dialogue
The unions also accused the Minister of Education of refusing to meet with them to discuss the issue.
According to the communiqué, the union had sought an audience with the Minister repeatedly over the past month but had not been granted one.
“The Union further notes with grave concern that the Honourable Minister of Education has, for the past one (1) month, persistently refused to grant the Union an audience to discuss this matter, despite repeated requests,” it said.
The unions said the alleged refusal to engage them had contributed to their decision to take industrial action in defence of public education.
“This refusal to engage in dialogue has left the Union with no option but to take this stand in defence of public education,” the communiqué stated.
The unions subsequently resolved that students should not resume in any Federal Unity College until the disagreement over King’s College had been resolved.
“No resumption shall take place in any Federal Unity College across the Federation until this matter is satisfactorily resolved and the planned sale/concession of King’s College, Lagos, is reversed,” they declared.
Ministry Directs Principal to Facilitate Handover
The Ministry’s September 4 letter to the Principal of King’s College gave specific instructions for the implementation of the concession.
The Principal was directed to “activate all necessary machinery to facilitate the smooth transition of the management of the College to KCOBA for effective administration.”
The Ministry also asked the Principal to provide the Transition Committee with information on staff who wished to remain within the Federal Civil Service.
The letter stated: “You are therefore, requested to activate all necessary machinery to facilitate the smooth transition of the management of the College to KCOBA for effective administration and avail the Transition Committee the list of Staff that are willing to remain in the employment of Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).”
The Principal was also instructed to communicate the contents of the letter to relevant stakeholders.
“Kindly bring the content of this letter to the attention of all concerned,” the Ministry directed.
The letter concluded with an indication that it was issued on behalf of the Minister, conveying the Minister’s “warm regards.”
Unions Mobilise Parents, PTAs, Communities
The Joint Congress has now called on parents, guardians and other stakeholders in Federal Unity Colleges to support its opposition to the concession.
It urged School-Based Management Committees, Parent-Teacher Associations and community leaders to join the campaign against what it described as the sale of “heritage institutions.”
The communiqué stated: “The Union hereby calls on all parents, community leaders, SBMC members, and PTA members across all Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria to join hands with the staff of the Federal Ministry of Education in resisting this sale of our heritage institutions.”
The unions added emphatically: “We are not ready for the privatization of our educational institutions.”
The dispute could therefore extend beyond the immediate issue of King’s College, as the unions have framed the concession as a broader test of the Federal Government’s policy towards its unity schools.
Appeal to Labour, Education, Media
In a further escalation of the dispute, the Joint Congress appealed to major labour, education and media organisations to support its position.
It specifically named the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
“The Union further appeals to, and solicits the solidarity and support of, all well-meaning bodies in Nigeria including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to join this struggle to ensure that no Federal Unity College is sold or conceded,” it said.
The unions maintained that their position was fundamentally about protecting public education from privatisation.
“Education must not be privatized,” the communiqué declared.
Potential Disruption to New Academic Session
The suspension means that, according to the unions’ directive, students in Federal Unity Colleges are not expected to report for the first term as previously scheduled.
The unions did not give a new resumption date, saying only that the suspension would remain in force “until further notice.”
They also said they would continue to provide updates to parents, guardians and the wider public as the situation develops.
“The Union will keep parents, guardians, and the general public duly informed of further developments,” the communiqué stated.
The immediate dispute now places the Federal Government’s concession arrangement for King’s College against the unions’ insistence that the school, and other Federal Unity Colleges, remain within the public education system.
While the Ministry’s letter indicates that the concession agreement has already been signed and that a six-month transition process is to commence, the unions have made the reversal of the King’s College concession a condition for the resumption of academic activities in Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
