For years, King’s College in Lagos has remained a premier government-owned secondary school in Nigeria. It has produced influential people and world beaters whose accomplishments and feats in different endeavours put Nigeria on the global map. However, move by the government to concession the school has created an education crisis that is now threatening to upend not just the security and stability it offered those who attend it but also erase the history of the school.
Months ago, the Federal Government announced plans to concession King’s College to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) for 35 years under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The Federal Government subsequently ordered the management of King’s College to hand over the school to the KCOBA following a concession agreement, with a transition committee mandated to complete the process within six months. However, the directive has been met with stiff opposition from critical stakeholders.
Matters came to head on Monday as workers shut 155 Federal Government Unity Colleges across the country and blocked the entrance to the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja.
The industrial action paralysed academic activities in the unity colleges, with teachers and other employees barricading school entrances in several locations and preventing the commencement of the first term after a long holiday. While the government maintains that the concession plan does not mean it is surrendering the management of the school to private individuals, the fear of drastic and wholesale change in the management structure of the school has continued to spur strong opposition from parents and teachers.
FG meets stakeholders
In an effort to douse tension and calm frayed nerves the, the Minister of Education, Dr The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, on Monday met with the leadership of organised labour over the controversial concession of King’s College, Lagos.
The meeting was attended by the Trade Union Congress, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and other affiliated unions, as well as the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, and the Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Folake Olatunji-Davies.
The meeting followed concerns raised by workers and organised labour over the proposed administrative arrangement, particularly the use of the term “concessioning” which the unions said had created uncertainty over the future of the institution and the employment status of its workers.
Alausa said the meeting was part of the Federal Government’s wider education reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that workers’ welfare must be balanced with the national interest and the future of Nigerian children.
He said, “While workers’ welfare remains important, all stakeholders must also consider the national interest and the future of the nation’s children.”
The minister lauded the unions for prioritising workers’ rights and their willingness to address the rift through dialogue, assuring them that the government would implement its reforms responsibly.
Alausa said the government would take into consideration the interests of learners, teachers and non-academic staff while ensuring effective management of public resources.
Protection of workers rights and interests
Olatunji-Davies, on her part, assured the unions that the government was committed to a smooth transition and would protect the interests of affected workers.
She clarified that workers at King’s College would remain civil servants under the proposed arrangement and would have the option of either remaining at the school or transferring to other schools within Lagos State, depending on their preference.
She also said a committee would be set up to facilitate the transition, ensure that relevant stakeholders were carried along and preserve the heritage and objectives of King’s College.
TUC suspends industrial action
Following federal government assurance to protect workers’ jobs and interests, General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, directed affiliate unions to suspend the ongoing industrial action over the concession saga.
Speaking after the meeting with the minister, Toro said the TUC made known the concerns of its affiliates and received explanations from the government on the issues in contention.
He said the decision to suspend the industrial action was taken following the assurances given by the minister, stressing that the suspension was not a permanent resolution of all the issues raised.
“The issues bothering us have been laid bare, and of course, those that were critical to us were also brought to the fore,” Toro said.
Toro also welcomed the establishment of the committee, saying it would enable the unions to examine the relevant policy document and make further contributions.
