Federal Unity Colleges Empty As Students Stay Home Over King’s College Concession

Federal unity colleges across Nigeria opened to a fresh term on Monday, but many classrooms remained empty as students stayed away despite the Federal Government’s insistence that schools would resume as scheduled.

The low turnout is coming amid mounting opposition to the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, with parents, alumni and education stakeholders demanding that the government reconsider the plan.

The Federal Government had, over the weekend, maintained that there was no change to the approved resumption date for federal unity colleges.

But as the new term began, several schools recorded poor attendance, with many students yet to return from the holidays.

The opposition to the concession has also moved beyond social media and public statements.

On Saturday, some parents staged a protest in Calabar, Cross River State, expressing their opposition to the proposed concession of King’s College.

The protesters called on the Federal Government to halt the process and engage parents and other stakeholders over the future of the institution.

King’s College, Lagos, founded in 1909, is one of Nigeria’s oldest and most prominent secondary schools and has produced generations of notable Nigerians.

The proposed concession has therefore generated strong reactions from sections of the school community, particularly parents and alumni who are concerned about possible changes to the institution’s ownership, management and accessibility.

The controversy has now cast a shadow over the resumption of students in federal unity colleges, with the poor turnout adding pressure on the government to explain the rationale behind the concession plan.

The Federal Government is expected to face renewed calls to clarify the terms of the proposed arrangement and address concerns over the future of King’s College and other federal unity schools.