The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has suspended its strike over the concession of King’s College, Lagos, allowing for the reopening of 115 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide. This decision was made at a meeting between the leadership of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, ASCSN, and zonal coordinators of the Unity Schools in Kano. The strike, which began after the Federal Government conceded King’s College to its Old Boys Association, had resulted in the closure of all Unity Colleges.
The ASCSN and Parent Teacher Association (PTA) had shut down the colleges, demanding that the Federal Government reverse the concession. The colleges were initially set to resume on September 13, but workers directed members to boycott the resumption. The suspension of the strike comes after an agreement was reached between labour and the Federal Ministry of Education, and a seven-member committee was set up to review the concession document for King’s College.
The committee, which includes two representatives from ASCSN, will review the concession document and address concerns raised by the unions. The leadership of the TUC, ASCSN, and zonal coordinators considered the agreement and the concession document, leading to the decision to suspend the strike. The strike was suspended to enable the committee to complete its assignment without pressure.
The PTA has proposed Sunday, September 27, as a resumption date for students, pending confirmation by the Federal Ministry of Education. The parents, in a statement, welcomed the decision to suspend the strike, describing it as an opportunity for dialogue. They urged the Federal Ministry of Education to urgently communicate its position on the proposed resumption date.
The dispute over the King’s College concession began after the Federal Ministry of Education directed the immediate handover of King’s College to the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA). The ministry stated that a transition committee would complete the handover within six months, after which Federal Government funding of the college would stop. However, the government maintained that the arrangement was not a sale or privatisation of King’s College.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the government retained legal ownership of the 117-year-old institution, while KCOBA would be responsible for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating, and maintaining the school. The workers objected to the concession, extending their opposition to the reopening of all Federal Unity Colleges.
The suspension of the strike has been welcomed by parents and guardians, who are eager for their children to return to school. The parents have urged the parties to sustain the dialogue and allow the seven-member committee to complete its assignment. They have also called for the release or restoration of PTA staff affected by the government’s action.
Key points
- The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) suspended its strike over the concession of King’s College, Lagos.
- A seven-member committee has been set up to review the concession document for King’s College.
- The Parent Teacher Association has proposed September 27 as a resumption date for students.
