By Ben Adoga, Abuja
The Federal Government has opened talks with education sector unions over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, following growing concerns among workers about the planned administrative arrangement.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, convened the late-evening meeting with representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and other affiliated unions.
Also attending the meeting were the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, and Acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Folake Olatunji David.
The meeting was ongoing at the time of filing this report, with the parties seeking to resolve concerns surrounding the proposed transition of the college to its Old Boys.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Attah Ikharo, Alausa said the engagement was part of the Federal Government’s ongoing education reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the government remained committed to quality education while recognising the importance of protecting the interests of workers affected by the proposed arrangement.
The minister urged all stakeholders to balance workers’ welfare with the national interest and the need to protect the future of Nigerian children.
He commended the unions for their commitment to workers’ rights and willingness to resolve the disagreement through dialogue.
Alausa also said the proposed reforms would be implemented responsibly, with consideration for learners, teachers, non-academic staff and the effective management of public resources.
“The government’s reforms will be implemented responsibly, with due consideration for learners, teachers, non-academic staff and the effective management of public resources,” he said.
The Acting Permanent Secretary, Olatunji David, assured the unions that the government was committed to ensuring a smooth transition and protecting the interests of affected workers.
She clarified that workers at King’s College would retain their status as civil servants and would have the option of remaining at the college under the new administrative arrangement or transferring to other schools within Lagos State.
Olatunji said a committee would be established to facilitate the transition, ensure stakeholders were carried along and preserve the heritage and objectives of the college.
The permanent secretary was also commended by Alausa for cutting short a scheduled official trip to London to return and address the concerns raised by the unions.
The TUC General Secretary, Comrade Nuhu Toro, said the unions were seeking clarification on the proposed changes, particularly the use of the term “concessioning”.
Toro said the issue had generated considerable concern among workers and contributed to an instruction for staff in unity schools and King’s College to down tools.
He, however, said interventions at the highest level had brought the parties to the negotiating table.
The TUC official said the unions were committed to resolving the matter through dialogue, particularly in the interest of children from poor and less privileged families.
He said both the ministry and unions shared the objective of reaching an early resolution to the dispute.
