King’s College: Alausa assures workers of job security

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The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Monday met with the leadership of organised labour over the controversy surrounding proposed changes to the administration of King’s College, Lagos, assuring workers that the Federal Government would address their concerns through dialogue.

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The meeting, which was attended by the Trade Union Congress, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and other affiliated unions, also had the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, and acting Permanent Secretary, Dr. Folake Olatunji-Davies, in attendance.

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The development followed concerns by 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 generated uncertainty over the future of the institution and its employees.

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Speaking during the meeting, Alausa said the engagement was part of the Federal Government’s broader education reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that the welfare of workers must be balanced with the national interest and the future of Nigerian children.

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The minister said, “While workers’ welfare remains important, all stakeholders must also consider the national interest and the future of the nation’s children.”

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He commended the unions for their commitment to workers’ rights and willingness to resolve the disagreement through dialogue, assuring them that the government would implement its reforms responsibly.

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Alausa also praised the acting Permanent Secretary for returning from a scheduled official trip to London to respond to the concerns raised by the unions.

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According to him, the government would take into consideration the interests of learners, teachers and non-academic staff while ensuring effective management of public resources.

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On her part, the acting Permanent Secretary assured the unions that the government was committed to a smooth transition and would protect the interests of affected workers.

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She clarified that the workers would remain civil servants and would have the option of either remaining at King’s College under the new administrative arrangement or transferring to other schools within Lagos State, depending on their preference.

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She said a committee would be constituted to facilitate the transition, ensure that relevant stakeholders were carried along and preserve the heritage and objectives of King’s College.

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The TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, said the unions were primarily seeking clarification on the proposed changes, particularly the meaning and implications of “concessioning.”

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Toro said the controversy had led to an instruction for workers in unity schools and King’s College to down tools, but noted that interventions at the highest level had brought the parties to the negotiating table.

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He said the unions were committed to resolving the matter through dialogue, particularly because of the impact of any disruption on children from poor and less-privileged families.

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“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.

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The meeting was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report, with the ministry reiterating that legitimate concerns raised by the unions would be addressed within the framework of the law and the government’s education reforms.

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King’s College, Lagos, is one of Nigeria’s oldest government-owned secondary schools and part of the country’s federal unity school system. The institution, established in 1909, has historically been administered by the Federal Government.

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The dispute over its proposed new administrative arrangement comes amid wider government efforts to reform the management and funding of public education institutions.

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The use of the term “concessioning” has, however, raised concerns among workers and organised labour over whether the arrangement could affect their employment status, prompting the current engagement between the Federal Government and the unions.

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