The Federal Government and organised labour have agreed to a two-week review of the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, following concerns and tension over the planned Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The agreement was reached at a high-level meeting chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and attended by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Folake Olatunji David.
The meeting followed an emergency session between the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), its parent body, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), and officials of the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.
At the meeting, ASCSN announced the immediate suspension of its industrial action over concerns about the proposed concession model and directed workers in Federal Unity Colleges nationwide to resume their normal duties.
The union’s National President, Shehu Mohammed, and Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo, signed a statement announcing the suspension.
As part of the agreement, a seven-member Joint Review Committee comprising representatives of labour and other stakeholders was established to examine the concession document presented by the Ministry.
The committee has two weeks to review the document and recommend amendments aimed at addressing concerns raised by labour and other stakeholders.
The Federal Government also assured labour that the interests of workers would be protected throughout the process.
According to ASCSN, the Minister of Education gave an “ironclad assurance” that no member of staff of King’s College would be victimised through retrenchment, posting or demotion as a result of the exercise.
The union, however, said staff members would be allowed to decide whether they wished to remain at the college.
ASCSN said its decision to suspend the industrial action was based on the principles of collective bargaining and recognition of the concessions made by the Federal Government.
The suspension, however, is conditional. The union warned that it would consider resuming the industrial action without further notice if the Joint Review Committee failed to adequately address the concerns raised by its representatives.
The association also urged its chapter and unit executives to remain vigilant and monitor developments closely as the committee carries out its assignment.
The Ministry further clarified that the Federal Government would retain 100 per cent legal ownership and oversight of King’s College, while public access to the institution would continue in accordance with existing Federal Government policy.
On school fees, the Ministry assured labour that there would be no increase beyond the Federal Government’s existing policy on affordable education applicable to Federal Unity Schools.
