The Federal Government has opened talks with organised labour over the controversy surrounding proposed changes to the administration of King’s College, Lagos, assuring workers that their employment status would be protected and that their concerns would be addressed through dialogue.
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The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance on Monday during a meeting with leaders of the Trade Union Congress, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and other affiliated unions.
Also at the meeting were the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, and the acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folake Olatunji-Davies.
The engagement followed growing concerns among workers and organised labour over the proposed administrative arrangement for King’s College, particularly the use of the term “concessioning,” which the unions said had created uncertainty over the future of the institution and the status of its employees.
Alausa said the meeting formed part of the Federal Government’s broader education reform programme, stressing that while the welfare of workers remained important, stakeholders must also consider the national interest and the future of Nigerian children.
“While workers’ welfare remains important, all stakeholders must also consider the national interest and the future of the nation’s children,” the minister said.
He commended the unions for defending workers’ interests while remaining willing to resolve the dispute through dialogue, assuring them that the government would implement any reform responsibly.
Alausa also praised the acting Permanent Secretary for returning from a scheduled official trip to London to address the issues raised by the unions.
According to him, the government would take into consideration the interests of students, teachers and non-academic staff while also seeking more effective management of public resources.
Olatunji-Davies, on her part, assured labour leaders that the Federal Government was committed to a smooth transition and would protect workers affected by the proposed administrative changes.
She clarified that employees of King’s College would remain civil servants and would be given the option of either remaining at the school under the new arrangement or transferring to other schools within Lagos State, depending on their preference.
The acting Permanent Secretary also disclosed that a committee would be constituted to oversee the transition, ensure that relevant stakeholders were carried along and preserve the heritage and objectives of King’s College.
Responding, TUC General Secretary Nuhu Toro said organised labour was principally seeking clarity on the proposed arrangement, particularly the meaning and implications of “concessioning.”
Toro said uncertainty surrounding the proposal had led to an instruction for workers in unity schools and King’s College to down tools, but added that interventions at the highest levels of government had now brought both sides to the negotiating table.
He said the unions remained committed to resolving the matter through dialogue, especially because of the consequences that prolonged disruption could have on children from poor and less-privileged families.
“We are on the same page on the future of our children,” Toro said, while urging the parties to reach an agreement as quickly as possible.
The meeting was still ongoing at the time of the report, with the Ministry of Education maintaining that legitimate concerns raised by the unions would be addressed within the law and the framework of the government’s education reforms.
King’s College, established in 1909, is one of Nigeria’s oldest government-owned secondary schools and forms part of the federal unity school system.
The institution has historically been administered by the Federal Government, but the proposed new administrative arrangement has generated opposition from workers and organised labour amid concerns that “concessioning” could affect the school’s management structure and employees.
The government has, however, now assured the unions that affected workers would remain in the federal civil service while discussions continue over the details of the proposed arrangement.
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