King’s College crisis: Alausa, unions begin fresh talks
By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
ABUJA — The Federal Government and organised labour on Monday began fresh talks to resolve the crisis over the proposed new administrative arrangement for King’s College, Lagos, with the government assuring affected workers that they would retain their status as civil servants.
The meeting, led by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, brought together the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and other affiliated unions protesting the proposed arrangement.
The talks were aimed at resolving the controversy surrounding the proposed changes and preventing further disruption in the nation’s unity schools.
The meeting came amid opposition from workers to the use of the term “concessioning” in relation to King’s College, with the unions demanding clarification of the Federal Government’s intentions.
Alausa, who was accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, assured the unions that the government would implement its education reforms responsibly.
He said the welfare and rights of workers would be given due consideration alongside the broader national interest and the future of Nigerian children.
The minister commended the unions for choosing dialogue to resolve the dispute, saying the engagement formed part of the Federal Government’s broader education reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He stressed that the ultimate objective of the reforms was to guarantee quality education for every Nigerian child.
Alausa also commended Olatunji-David for cutting short a scheduled official trip to London to return and address the concerns raised by the unions.
He said the government was determined to ensure that its reforms took into account the interests of learners, teachers and non-academic staff, as well as the need for prudent and effective management of public resources.
In a major reassurance to the aggrieved workers, Olatunji-David said staff affected by the proposed arrangement would remain civil servants, with the option of either continuing to work at King’s College or transferring to other schools within Lagos State.
According to her, the choice would be left to the affected workers, while the government would establish a committee to oversee the transition.
She said the committee would ensure that all relevant stakeholders were carried along while protecting the heritage, objectives and institutional identity of the college.
The clarification was aimed at addressing concerns among the unions that the proposed arrangement could lead to job losses or a change in the status of workers attached to the college.
Earlier, TUC General Secretary, Comrade Nuhu Toro, said the unions were seeking clear explanations on the proposed changes, particularly the meaning and implications of “concessioning” King’s College.
Toro said the controversy had become serious enough to prompt an instruction for workers in unity schools and King’s College to withdraw their services.
He, however, acknowledged that interventions at the highest level had opened the door for negotiations between the unions and the government.
Toro said labour was prepared to resolve the matter through dialogue, particularly because of the implications of any disruption to the education of children from poor and less-privileged families.
“We are on the same page with the ministry,” Toro said, indicating that the unions were more interested in securing clarity and protecting workers’ interests than prolonging the dispute.
Alausa, in his response, reiterated the Federal Government’s willingness to continue engaging the unions and other stakeholders in good faith.
He said legitimate concerns would be addressed within the framework of the law and the ongoing education reforms.
The renewed engagement is expected to determine the fate of the proposed King’s College arrangement, with both sides seeking a solution that protects workers, preserves the institution’s heritage and prevents further disruption to students’ education.
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