Unions reject TUC suspension, demand reversal of King’s College concession

Some unions under the Joint Workers Council of the Federal Ministry of Education have rejected the suspension of industrial action announced by the Trade Union Congress, TUC, over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos.

The unions are demanding the immediate reversal of the Federal Government’s decision, insisting that the concession could have far-reaching implications for public education and the future management of Federal Unity Colleges.

Chairman of the Joint Council, Mr Abraham Onuche, stated this while addressing journalists during a protest by the unions at the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja.

Onuche said the workers remained committed to their demand for the reversal of what he described as the proposed concession of the 35-year-old management arrangement involving King’s College.

He said the unions would not recognise the TUC’s suspension of the industrial action because, according to him, the congress was not directly involved in the protest or negotiations with the workers.

The chairman said the unions had been protesting for three days and had barricaded the entrance to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja to prevent officials and other workers from accessing the premises.

According to him, the action was necessary to draw attention to what the workers considered a critical threat to the future of Federal Unity Colleges.

Onuche expressed surprise that the TUC could meet with the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and subsequently announce the suspension of an action in which, he said, the congress did not participate.

“TUC never came here for one day to listen to us, our demands.”

He questioned the basis on which the TUC could suspend an industrial action that it had neither joined nor directly discussed with the unions involved.

Onuche said the unions had formally written to the Minister of Education on July 6, requesting an opportunity to discuss their concerns, but alleged that the minister had yet to grant them an audience.

He said the lack of consultation had deepened the dispute between the ministry and the unions, maintaining that the workers were demanding dialogue before any final decision was taken on the concession.

The chairman said the unions were particularly concerned about the effect of the arrangement on teachers and other employees of King’s College.

He also questioned the planned deployment of teachers who might be affected by the concession to other schools in Lagos.

Onuche recalled that the Federal Government had approved a waiver for the employment of more than 3,000 Parent-Teacher Association, PTA, staff.

“I want to thank President Bola Tinubu for giving Federal Ministry of Education a waiver to employ more than 3,000 PTA staff.”

He, however, questioned what would happen to teachers displaced by the King’s College concession if new PTA workers were simultaneously being employed.

According to him, such a situation could create unnecessary uncertainty for teachers whose positions and future postings might be affected.

The unions are also worried about the wider implications of the concession for other Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

Onuche said the immediate demand was for the minister to revoke the decision concerning King’s College and other schools.

“Our demand now is that the minister should revoke that decision concerning King’s College and other schools.”

He warned that allowing the concession of King’s College to proceed could establish a precedent that may encourage old students’ associations of other Federal Unity Colleges to seek similar arrangements.

“If that King’s College goes, as we follow in law, that’s what they call precedent.”

The chairman urged the government to carefully consider the long-term consequences of the concession before allowing the arrangement to proceed.

He said the unions had other grievances, including stagnation among education officers and challenges affecting staff welfare and administration, but noted that their immediate priority was securing the reversal of the King’s College concession.

Onuche said the protest would continue until the government reversed the decision and engaged the unions in meaningful consultations.

He warned that failure to address the matter could result in the continued closure of the ministry’s headquarters and non-resumption of activities in affected schools.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, Federal Ministry of Education chapter, Mr Chigozie Ngadi, said the protest was aimed at protecting access to quality education.

Ngadi said the unions were particularly concerned about children from less privileged families who might be unable to afford education if access to King’s College became restricted.

He described King’s College as a national asset that should remain accessible to Nigerians irrespective of their economic background.

Ngadi also alleged that police personnel had been deployed to the school, describing the development as an attempt to intimidate workers protesting against the concession.

“We are speaking for Nigerians. We are speaking for down-trodden Nigerians to have access to good education.”

He stressed that the unions were not opposed to partnerships capable of improving infrastructure and educational facilities in public schools.

However, Ngadi maintained that any such partnership must preserve public ownership and ensure that children from poor families continued to have access to quality education.

He urged the King’s College Old Boys Association to contribute to the development of the institution without taking away opportunities from the wider society.

“The old boys association should give back to that society that made them what they are and not take from it.”

Ngadi said the unions would continue to press for the reversal of the King’s College concession, adding that their other grievances would be addressed after the matter was resolved.