The Federal Government and organised labour have begun discussions aimed at resolving the controversy surrounding the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the institution’s Old Boys’ Association.
The development followed protests and a shutdown of Federal Government Unity Colleges after education workers rejected the management arrangement and opposed the government’s decision to proceed with the concession.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, met with representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and other unions on Monday as efforts intensified to settle the disagreement.
The dispute centres on a proposed 35-year Public-Private Partnership arrangement under which the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) would take responsibility for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the school.
The Federal Government has repeatedly clarified that the arrangement does not amount to the sale or privatisation of King’s College. According to the government, legal ownership of the 117-year-old institution remains with the Federal Government, which will continue to exercise its regulatory and oversight responsibilities.
However, the unions have raised concerns about the implications of the concession for the school’s public character, the welfare of workers and the future management of other Federal Government-owned schools.
The disagreement resulted in workers shutting Federal Unity Colleges across the country as the new academic session was scheduled to begin. Reports indicated that 112 of the 115 Federal Unity Colleges remained affected by the workers’ action, with only a few schools admitting students who had already travelled long distances.
Workers also barricaded the entrance to the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja as part of their protest against the concession arrangement.
During the meeting with labour representatives, Alausa said the government was willing to engage stakeholders and consider the interests of students, teachers and non-teaching staff.
He stressed that workers’ welfare was important but should be balanced with the broader national interest and the need to secure a better future for Nigerian children.
The ministry’s Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Folake Olatunji-Davies, assured workers that the government would work toward a smooth transition and protect the interests of affected employees.
She explained that King’s College workers would retain their status as civil servants. According to her, staff members could either remain at the institution or request transfers to other schools within Lagos State.
The government also plans to establish a transition committee to coordinate the implementation of the arrangement, involve relevant stakeholders and protect the historic identity and objectives of King’s College.
On the labour side, TUC General Secretary Nuhu Toro said the unions primarily wanted clarification about the meaning and practical implications of the concession.
He said the workers remained interested in resolving the disagreement through dialogue, particularly because continued disruption of classes could adversely affect students from less-privileged backgrounds.
Meanwhile, the King’s College Old Boys’ Association has indicated that it will formally present its position on the controversy.
The association’s leadership has defended its commitment to the institution and highlighted the contributions made by former students toward its development over the years.
The Federal Government maintains that the concession is intended to attract investment and management expertise needed to rehabilitate and modernise King’s College without transferring its ownership.
With discussions between government and labour now underway, stakeholders are expected to seek a resolution that addresses workers’ concerns while determining how the proposed management arrangement can proceed without undermining the public character of the historic institution.
