Nigeria: Students turned away as schools face disruption
The resumption of classes scheduled for September 14 was disrupted in many Federal Unity Colleges. Staff and parents kept institutions closed to demand the withdrawal of the concession granted to King’s College by its alumni association.
Students arriving to resume classes on Monday, September 14, were turned away from several Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria, where staff and parents kept the gates closed in protest against the concession granted to King’s College in Lagos by its alumni association.
The movement disrupted the start of the first term despite an order from the federal Ministry of Education to reopen all institutions. The Daily Sun reported on Tuesday that students were sent back at the entrance of some colleges, while the protest also affected the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The Joint Congress of Unions had instructed staff not to return to work until the issue regarding King’s College was resolved. Unions fear that this model could extend to other federal institutions, jeopardizing jobs and public funding.
The government has dismissed the idea of a sale or privatization. In a clarification issued on September 11, Education Minister Maruf Tunji Alausa stated that the federal government retains legal ownership of King’s College and its control powers.
The agreement assigns the King’s College Old Boys’ Association the responsibility for funding, rehabilitation, modernization, operation, and maintenance of the institution. The ministry assures that admissions will remain subject to the rules of the Unity Colleges and that a transition plan is in place for the staff.
On September 12, the ministry reaffirmed September 14 as the official resumption date and announced coordination with security services around the institutions. However, the union’s statement from September 10 maintained the suspension of the resumption until the dispute over the concession is resolved.
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