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