Abuja — The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has directed its affiliate unions to suspend all industrial actions over the concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The directive followed an emergency meeting between the TUC leadership and the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, in Abuja on Monday.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and other unions within the Federal Ministry of Education had earlier ordered workers in federal unity colleges across the country not to resume academic activities until further notice.
The unions were protesting the proposed concession of King’s College to KCOBA, expressing concerns over the potential impact of the arrangement on workers and the administration of federal unity colleges.
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The industrial action disrupted the resumption of academic activities for the 2026/2027 academic session across federal unity colleges nationwide.
ASCSN had warned that thousands of college workers could potentially lose their jobs under the concession arrangement.
However, during Monday’s meeting, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa assured the unions that no worker would lose their job as a result of the concession.
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Speaking after the meeting, TUC General Secretary Nuhu Toro said the unions presented their major concerns to the minister and that the issues were considered in good faith.
Toro, however, stressed that the suspension of the industrial action was not permanent.
“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.
According to him, the minister provided explanations on the concerns raised by the labour unions during the meeting.
Seven-Member Committee Constituted
Following the agreement reached with labour, Alausa directed all federal unity colleges to resume academic activities immediately.
The minister also announced the formation of a seven-member high-level committee to examine additional recommendations that could be incorporated into the already-signed agreement involving the Federal Ministry of Education and the TUC.
The committee comprises:
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- 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.
- Two representatives of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association.
The committee has been given two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its recommendations.
Alausa further assured workers that both academic and non-academic staff would continue to be treated in accordance with the established Public Service Rules.
The latest development brings a temporary end to the disruption that had affected the reopening of federal unity colleges for the new academic session, although the TUC has made it clear that the suspension of the industrial action is subject to further developments.
