By Oluwatosin Ojo
Academic activities were grounded at the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Akure, on Monday following an indefinite strike declared by education unions over alleged concessioning of King’s College, Lagos.
A visit to the school by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that the main gate was under lock and key, thereby restricting movement in and out of the school premises.
There were various banners with inscriptions such as: “Injury to one is injury to all”, “We say no to concession of Unity schools”, and “Children of common man will be denied education if unity schools are privatised” on the gate of the college.
NAN reports that the Federal Government had directed students across all 115 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide to resume for the new academic session on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026.
However, the directive was thwarted by education unions protesting a Ministry of Education circular ordering a six-month transition period to hand over administrative control of King’s College, Lagos, to its old boys’ association.
Speaking with NAN, a teacher at FGGC Akure, Mr Isaac Akinwehinmi, confirmed that no student was allowed to enter the school as the union had locked down all academic and administrative facilities.
“We are on strike now. Offices, the school itself, everything has been locked up.
“The dispute is between the union and the Ministry of Education over King’s College, Lagos.
“The government issued a circular that after six months, the school management should hand over administrative control to former students under a concession arrangement.
“Staff were even asked to identify whether they wanted to remain under the ministry or work with the old students.
“The union insisted that this cannot be accepted and asked the minister to reverse the circular, but the minister refused. That is what caused the strike,” Akinwehinmi said.
He added that the industrial action was binding on all 115 Unity Colleges nationwide, as well as the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters, under the principle of “an injury to one is an injury to all.”
Another teacher in the school, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the directive from the union leadership explicitly asked all teachers to shun academic activities in compliance with the strike.
“We are yet to resume based on the directive by our union leadership because of the issue on King’s College, Lagos.
“All other Unity Schools are on strike because initially, the Old Boys’ Association of King’s College said it would take over infrastructure, but it later turned into taking over the school,” she said.
She warned that if the concession arrangement was allowed to stand, it would have severe negative effects on access to quality secondary education for ordinary citizens across the country.
“If allowed, children of the poor will not be able to gain admission to unity schools again,” she added.
Also speaking, the Coordinating Officer of Trade Union Congress (TUC) in all unity schools in the South-West, Comrade Yusuf Saliu, stated that King’s College is part of 115 Unity Schools in the country.
“We have been on this since the Obasanjo era. Influential people, especially the old students and some politicians in the country, want to buy it, and we’re saying no.
“That is the only category of school that offers quality education that children of the poor can attend. Because of that, we have to join hands with the school and stop the influential from hijacking it.
“All Unity Schools in Nigeria are under lock and key,” Saliu said.
Saliu, who is also the Coordinating Officer of Unity Schools in the South-West, affirmed that the industrial action would continue until the government rescinds its decision on the concessions.
Reacting to the development, a parent and member of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), who pleaded anonymity, expressed deep disappointment over the sudden disruption of academic activities in the school after a long break.
“We prepared our children for resumption today based on the Federal Government’s directive, only to arrive here and meet the gates under lock and key.
“We appeal to both the government and the unions to resolve this crisis urgently so that our children can return to the classrooms,” the parent said.
Efforts by NAN to reach the principal of the school for further comments proved abortive. (NAN)
