Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Trade Union Congress has suspended the industrial action it directed its affiliates to commence at Federal Unity Colleges nationwide over the proposed concession of King's College, Lagos, to the King's College Old Boys' Association. The decision was announced on Monday, September 14, 2026, by the TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, following a meeting with the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and other stakeholders in Abuja.
Toro described the engagement as fruitful and robust, saying the concerns of the unions were presented and considered in good faith. He said the suspension would allow a newly constituted committee to undertake its assignment and consider the issues raised by the unions. However, he stressed that the suspension did not mean the industrial action had been permanently called off. "Suspending an action is not calling off," he said, warning that the unions could resume the action immediately if they were dissatisfied with the committee's recommendations.
The government's response was swift. Alausa directed all Federal Unity Colleges to resume academic activities immediately following the suspension of the industrial action. He reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to continued engagement with the unions and other stakeholders on the King's College management arrangement, saying the process would be guided by mutual respect, the law and the national interest. He also assured the unions that no staff member would be dismissed, demonised or punished as a result of the issues under consideration. The minister said the deployment of academic and non-academic staff would continue to be handled in accordance with the Public Service Rules.
Alausa announced the constitution of a seven-member high-level committee to consider additional recommendations that could be incorporated into the agreement already signed. The committee comprises two representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, including the Minister of State for Education and the Acting Permanent Secretary; one representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment; two senior TUC representatives; and two representatives of the King's College Old Boys Association. The committee has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its recommendations.
The dispute began when the Federal Government announced plans to concession King's College to KCOBA for 35 years. The unions opposed the move, describing it as unacceptable, and directed their members to withdraw services across all Federal Unity Colleges. The action paralysed academic activities, with 112 Federal Unity Colleges remaining shut as of Monday. The government maintained that the institution had not been sold or privatised and that it retained legal ownership of the 117-year-old school. Under the arrangement, KCOBA is expected to finance, rehabilitate, modernise, operate and maintain the college, while the government retains its statutory, regulatory, monitoring, inspection and enforcement powers.
The TUC General Secretary also called for urgent attention to the condition of King's College, stressing that the existing situation should not be allowed to continue. He said the dilapidated state of the institution required urgent government intervention to improve the learning environment for students. He described the outcome of the engagement as a win-win situation, saying the unions had secured assurances on the concerns of their members, while the government had demonstrated willingness to revisit issues requiring further consideration through the committee.
The suspension of the industrial action brings temporary relief to students, parents and teachers across the country who had been affected by the closure of Federal Unity Colleges. However, the underlying issues that triggered the crisis remain unresolved. The committee's recommendations, expected within two weeks, will determine whether the truce holds or whether the unions will resume their suspended action. For now, the classrooms are open, the students are back, and the government has bought itself time. But the battle over the soul of King's College is far from over, and the next two weeks will be critical in determining whether the concession arrangement proceeds as planned or whether the unions succeed in forcing a rethink.
The government has insisted there is no going back on the concession, while the unions have made it clear they reserve the right to resume the strike if their concerns are not adequately addressed. The committee's composition, which includes representatives from both sides, suggests that the government is willing to engage in genuine dialogue. But the unions' insistence that the suspension is not a call-off indicates that they are prepared to escalate the dispute if the committee's recommendations fall short of their expectations. For the thousands of students and teachers who depend on Federal Unity Colleges, the coming weeks will be a period of uncertainty, as they wait to see whether the truce holds or whether the crisis that shut down their classrooms will return.
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