Students of federal unity colleges in Abuja have deferred their scheduled resumption after teachers’ unions opposed the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos.
Most of the colleges earlier scheduled to resume students on Sunday, September 13, were under lock and key when correspondents visited the institutions.
The development followed a directive from the teachers’ union against the federal government’s proposed concession of King’s College.
Several colleges had no teachers or students on their premises as of Sunday morning.
Some of the schools had notices pasted on their gates, indicating that academic activities would not resume as earlier scheduled.
One inscription read, “Unity Colleges are not for sale,” and another, “No resumption until reversal of King’s College concession,” clearly linking the deferred resumption to the ongoing dispute.
Other inscriptions included, “Save the future of our children” and “Unity Colleges are the pride of the masses.”
The messages highlighted concerns among teachers and other stakeholders over the possible implications of concessioning a federal unity college.
At the Federal Government Boys’ College, Apo, the school premises were deserted, with no teachers available to receive students.
It was also observed that no parents brought their wards to the school, apparently because of the uncertainty surrounding the scheduled resumption.
In an interview, Amina Abdullahi, chairperson of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Federal Government Boys’ College, Apo, confirmed that the school did not open as scheduled.
Ms Abdullahi said the development complied with the teachers’ union directive.
She added that the school was also awaiting further directives from the Federal Ministry of Education.
“We are asking for openness in all of this because the old boys have been helpful to the schools,” she said.
Ms Abdullahi explained that the union had locked the school gate, making it impossible for teachers to resume normal activities.
“The union has locked up our gate. So, we are not expected to fly through the fence. So, that’s it,” she said.
The PTA chairperson said she could not provide a definite timeline for students’ resumption because some underlying issues remained unresolved.
She urged the federal government to ensure openness and transparency in resolving the dispute over the proposed concession.
Ms Abdullahi said former students had continued to contribute to the development and improvement of the schools.
She urged the government to recognise the contributions of old students and other stakeholders in the management and development of Federal Unity Colleges.
According to her, parents would have to wait for further developments before deciding when normal academic activities would resume.
Ms Abdullahi stressed the need for all parties to engage in dialogue to resolve the concerns surrounding the proposed concession of King’s College.
She said students’ interests should remain paramount in any decision about the future of the federal unity colleges.
Also speaking, Adamu Ali, financial secretary, Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari, said the school complied with the union’s directive.
Mr Ali said the directive affected the scheduled resumption of students in federal unity colleges across the country.
He called on the federal government and the Federal Ministry of Education to urgently interface with the unions to resolve the dispute.
According to him, direct and transparent dialogue between the government and staff unions is critical to resolving the disagreement.
Ali said such engagement would also help to ensure the safe reopening of the affected schools.
He warned that prolonged disputes could disrupt the academic calendar and affect the welfare and safety of students and staff residing in the colleges.
Mr Ali urged all parties to prioritise students’ interests by resolving the matter through constructive engagement.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Audu Amba, backed the suspension of resumption in Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
Mr Amba urged the federal government to suspend the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, and consult relevant stakeholders on the policy.
He said the leadership of the union’s federal wing would meet on Monday to deliberate on the development and determine the next line of action.
Mr Amba described the situation as avoidable, saying all stakeholders should have been consulted before the government made such a decision.
He said teachers, central to the running of schools, should have been included before the proposed concession was introduced.
According to him, concessioning the college could lead to a change in management, thereby raising concerns about the fate and welfare of teachers.
“There can never be a school without teachers. And every worker should be able to be seen protecting his place of work,” Mr Amba said.
He said the concession of one federal unity college could encourage similar demands involving other federal government colleges, potentially undermining their original public-service purpose.
Mr Amba, however, clarified that the NUT had not officially directed teachers to withdraw from work or declared schools closed, saying Monday’s meeting would enable the union to assess the situation and communicate its position to teachers.
(NAN)
