By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), King’s College Lagos Unit has vowed to keep the foremost unity College shut until the reversal of its concession.
The Federal Government had recently announced the concessioned the college to King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA).
But the Chairman of the King’s College ASCSN unit, Mr Samuel Enang said on Wednesday in Lagos that the association totally rejected concession because its members were employed by the Federal Government.
Enang said workers would continue opposing the concession through lawful means, adding that the Federal Government must retain responsibility for King’s College Lagos.
Enang said the principal of the college had informed the workers about the concession, but workers rejected it.
He said the principal presented a letter from the Federal Ministry of Education informing the staff about the concession of the college to KCOBA.
He said that the workers became more worried after being presented with a nominal roll requiring them to indicate whether they would want to continue under KCOBA or Federal Civil Service.
According to him, the workers were informed that those opting for Federal Civil Service would be redeployed within Lagos.
“We immediately turned the briefing into a congress, rejected the concession and resolved that no staff member would sign any document that could jeopardise our employment.”
Enang said the workers were opposed concession, privatization or commercialization of the college, expressing concern that such an arrangement could threaten jobs and make the institution unaffordable to the ordinary Nigerian families.
The unit chairman said that the concession could lead to higher school fees.
“Our children have been admitted for six years, and we have completed documentation, so government must clarify what happens to them if concession proceeds.
“If the government believes the school needs improvement, it should provide the necessary funding and infrastructure instead of handing over a public institution to private interests.
“We will continue to oppose the concession through lawful means until government reverses the decision and guarantees the protection of workers, students and public education.
There was no activity going on in the school on Thursday.
The gates of the college were shut. Only workers were seen discussing in small groups.
Mr Adeolu Ogunbanjo, Chairman, Board of Trustees, National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), also expressed concerns about the concession.
He said that parents would want to know the reason for the concession.
“If government wants to withdraw from managing unity schools, it should tell Nigerians clearly and state its reasons,” he said.
Ogunbanjo warned that concessioning King’s College Lagos could trigger requests from old students’ associations of other Federal Government colleges.
A visit to Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, also a unity college, on Wednesday, to know if it was also shut down, showed that registration for the 2026/2027 academic session was ongoing.
Parents and students were seen carrying out registration activities.
A member of staff, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the registration was for both junior and senior classes.
The placement exercises were being supervised by workers.
A staff who pleaded anonymity said: “Resumption date is not yet confirmed because management awaits directives from Abuja before releasing information to parents and students about the new academic session.”
King’s College Lagos and Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, are among Nigeria’s oldest and most prominent Federal Government colleges, with a long history of academic excellence and national significance. (NAN)
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