The Federal Government has moved to calm concerns among workers at King’s College, Lagos, assuring organised labour that employees of the historic institution will not lose their civil service status under any new administrative arrangement.

The assurance was given on Monday by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, during a meeting with representatives of organised labour over the controversy surrounding proposed changes to the management of the school.

The meeting brought together the Trade Union Congress, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and other affiliated unions, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, and the Acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Folake Olatunji-Davies.

The engagement followed growing concerns among workers and labour unions over the proposed arrangement, particularly the use of the word “concessioning”, which had generated fears about the future of the school and the employment status of its workers.

Alausa said the government was prepared to address the concerns through consultation and dialogue, while stressing that education reforms must take into account both workers’ welfare and the broader interests of the country.

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 described the unions’ participation in the discussions as important to finding a workable solution, commending them for defending workers’ rights while remaining open to dialogue.

Alausa said the proposed reforms were part of the Federal Government’s wider efforts to reposition the education sector under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He assured the labour representatives that the government would pursue the reforms responsibly, with consideration for the interests of students, teachers and non-academic staff, as well as the need for prudent management of public resources.

The minister also commended the Acting Permanent Secretary for cutting short a scheduled official engagement in London to return and attend to the concerns raised by the unions.

The Acting Permanent Secretary, Olatunji-Davies, provided further clarification on the proposed transition, assuring the unions that affected employees would remain civil servants.

She said workers would have the choice of remaining at King’s College under the proposed new administrative structure or transferring to other schools within Lagos State, depending on their preference.

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According to her, the ministry would establish a committee to oversee the transition process and ensure that all relevant stakeholders were adequately consulted.

She added that the committee would also work to preserve the heritage, values and objectives of King’s College throughout the process.

The TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, said the unions’ immediate concern was to understand precisely what the proposed changes meant, particularly the implications of the term “concessioning”.

Toro explained that the uncertainty had previously resulted in an instruction for workers in unity schools and King’s College to withdraw their services.

He said, however, that intervention at the highest level had created an opportunity for both the government and labour to return to the negotiating table.

The labour leader said the unions were interested in resolving the dispute through dialogue, particularly because any prolonged disruption could negatively affect students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We are on the same page on the future of our children,” Toro said, stressing the importance of reaching an acceptable resolution without delay.

The meeting was ongoing as of the time of filing the report, with the Education Ministry maintaining that the legitimate concerns raised by the unions would be addressed in accordance with existing laws and the Federal Government’s education reform programme.

King’s College, Lagos, established in 1909, is one of Nigeria’s oldest government-owned secondary schools and a prominent institution within the Federal Government’s unity school system.

The institution has historically operated under Federal Government administration, making the proposed changes a matter of significant interest to its workers and alumni.

The controversy surrounding the new administrative arrangement has also intensified wider discussions about the management and financing of public educational institutions.

For organised labour, the key concern remains the meaning and practical implications of “concessioning”, particularly whether the proposed arrangement could alter the employment status or conditions of service of existing workers.

Monday’s meeting therefore marked a significant step towards resolving the dispute through consultation between the Federal Government and the unions.

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