The Federal Government has moved to ease tensions over proposed changes to the administration of King’s College, Lagos, following concerns from organised labour about the use of the term “concessioning” and its possible implications for workers.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, met with labour leaders on Monday and assured them that the government would address their concerns through dialogue while pursuing reforms in the nation’s education sector.
The meeting brought together representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and other affiliated unions. Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, and acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Folake Olatunji-Davies, also attended.
Labour’s concerns centre largely on the proposed administrative arrangement for King’s College, particularly the description of the plan as “concessioning.”
The unions said the term had created uncertainty about the future of the institution and the employment status of its workers.
Speaking at the meeting, Alausa said the engagement formed part of the Federal Government’s broader education reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He stressed that while the welfare of workers remained important, government also had a responsibility to protect the national interest and ensure that reforms ultimately served 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 defending workers’ interests while remaining willing to resolve the disagreement through dialogue.
He assured the labour representatives that the government would implement its reforms responsibly.
The minister also commended Olatunji-Davies for cutting short a scheduled official trip to London to return and address the concerns raised by the unions.
According to him, the interests of learners, teachers and non-academic staff would be considered as the government seeks to improve the management of public resources.
Olatunji-Davies, in her remarks, assured labour that the government was committed to ensuring a smooth transition while protecting the interests of affected workers.
She clarified that workers at King’s College would retain their status as civil servants under the proposed arrangement.
According to her, affected workers would have the option of remaining at King’s College or transferring to other schools within Lagos State, depending on their preference.
She added that a committee would be established to oversee the transition, ensure that relevant stakeholders were consulted and preserve the heritage and objectives of King’s College.
For labour, however, the immediate priority remained obtaining clarity on what the proposed concessioning arrangement entails.
TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, said the unions were seeking clarification on the proposed changes, particularly the meaning and practical implications of “concessioning” for the institution and its workers.
Toro disclosed that the controversy had resulted in an instruction for workers in unity schools and King’s College to down tools.
He, however, said interventions at the highest level had led to the parties returning to the negotiating table.
He said the unions remained committed to resolving the disagreement through dialogue, noting that any prolonged disruption could have serious consequences for pupils, particularly those from poor and less-privileged families.
“We are on the same page on the future of our children,” Toro said, urging the parties to reach an agreement quickly.
The meeting was still ongoing at the time of filing this report, while the Ministry of Education maintained that legitimate concerns raised by the unions would be addressed within the framework of the law and the government’s education reform programme.
Established in 1909, King’s College, Lagos, is one of Nigeria’s oldest government-owned secondary schools and a prominent institution within the federal unity school system. It has historically been administered by the Federal Government.
The controversy over its proposed new administrative structure comes against the backdrop of wider efforts by the government to reform the management and funding of public education institutions.
However, the use of “concessioning” has become a major source of concern among workers and organised labour, who fear that changes to the management structure could have implications for their employment.
Monday’s engagement therefore represents an attempt by the Federal Government and labour to resolve the dispute before it escalates further, with both sides stressing the importance of protecting workers while ensuring continuity of education for students.
