King’s College Crisis: FG Assures Staff, Sets Up Committee as TUC Suspends Strike

The Federal Government has assured workers at King’s College, Lagos, that no staff member will be dismissed as part of the arrangement allowing the school’s Old Boys Association to continue managing the institution.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance after a high-level meeting with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other stakeholders to resolve concerns surrounding the management arrangement.

The meeting ended with an agreement to proceed with the existing arrangement while setting up a seven-member committee to review the agreement and consider additional recommendations.

Alausa said the committee would include two representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, including the Minister of State for Education and the Acting Permanent Secretary; one representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment; two senior representatives of the TUC; and two representatives of the King’s College Old Boys Association.

The committee is expected to complete its assignment within one to two weeks and submit further recommendations for consideration.

The minister also stressed that both academic and non-academic staff would continue to be treated in line with the Public Service Rules.

He said there would be no violation of the rules regarding the deployment of staff, addressing one of the major concerns raised by workers and their unions.

Alausa said the engagement was conducted in the spirit of mutual respect and national interest, acknowledging that not every stakeholder would get everything they wanted.

According to him, dialogue and careful consideration remained the best way to reach a solution that serves the interests of the country.

TUC Suspends Industrial Action

The TUC General Secretary, Comrade Nuhu Toro, described the meeting as fruitful and robust, saying the concerns raised by the unions were openly discussed and considered in good faith.

Toro subsequently announced the suspension of the industrial action previously directed against the affected unions.

He said the suspension would allow the new committee to carry out its assignment, while the unions retained the option of resuming the action if necessary.

The TUC leader welcomed the committee’s formation, saying it would give the unions an opportunity to examine the relevant policy document, raise concerns and make contributions before stakeholders reconvene.

Toro also stressed the need for urgent intervention at King’s College, saying the deteriorating condition of the institution could no longer be allowed to continue.

He described the outcome as a win-win situation, arguing that the unions had secured assurances for their members while the government had shown willingness to reconsider areas requiring further attention.

The Federal Government said the engagement formed part of its wider efforts to improve the management and condition of public educational institutions and strengthen the quality of learning under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.