The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has assured organised labour that the Federal Government will address concerns over proposed changes to the administration of King’s College, Lagos, through dialogue.
Alausa gave the assurance on Monday during a meeting with the Trade Union Congress, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and other affiliated unions.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, and the acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Folake Olatunji-Davies.
The engagement followed concerns among workers and labour unions over the proposed administrative arrangement for the school, particularly the use of the term “concessioning.”
The unions said the term had created uncertainty over the future of King’s College and the employment status of its workers.
Alausa said the meeting was part of the Federal Government’s broader education reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He stressed that workers’ welfare must be balanced with 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.
Alausa commended the unions for their commitment to workers’ rights and their willingness to resolve the disagreement through dialogue. He also assured them that the government would implement its reforms responsibly.
He said the government would consider the interests of learners, teachers and non-academic staff while ensuring the effective management of public resources.
The acting Permanent Secretary assured the unions that the government was committed to a smooth transition and would protect the interests of affected workers.
She clarified that the workers would remain civil servants and would have the option of either staying at King’s College under the new administrative arrangement or transferring to other schools within Lagos State, depending on their preference.
Olatunji-Davies said a committee would be constituted to facilitate the transition, ensure that relevant stakeholders were consulted and preserve the heritage and objectives of the institution.
The TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, said the unions were primarily seeking clarification on the proposed changes, especially the meaning and implications of “concessioning.”
Toro said the controversy had led to an instruction for workers in unity schools and King’s College to down tools. He, however, noted that interventions at the highest level had brought the parties to the negotiating table.
He said the unions were committed to resolving the matter through dialogue, particularly because any disruption could affect children from poor and less-privileged families.
“We are on the same page on the future of our children,” Toro said, stressing the need for the parties to reach an agreement quickly.
The meeting was still ongoing as of the time of filing the report, while the ministry reiterated that legitimate concerns raised by the unions would be addressed within the framework of the law and the government’s education reforms.
King’s College, Lagos, established in 1909, is one of Nigeria’s oldest government-owned secondary schools and part of the federal unity school system. The institution has historically been administered by the Federal Government.
Comments
Add a comment