TUC Suspends Industrial Action, Gives FG Two Weeks to Review Demands

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), has suspended its planned industrial action over concerns surrounding the management arrangement at King’s College, Lagos.

The decision followed a meeting between the union, the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to address issues raised by workers and unions.

The meeting also produced a seven-member high-level committee to review outstanding concerns linked to the agreement for the King’s College Old Boys Association to continue managing the school.

The committee has been given between one and two weeks to complete its assignment and make recommendations on the issues raised by the unions.

The Federal Government will have two representatives on the committee, including the Minister of State for Education and the Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry.

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment will also nominate one representative, while TUC and the King’s College Old Boys Association will each have two representatives.

TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, described the meeting as fruitful and robust, saying the union accepted the outcome as an opportunity to examine the issues properly.

He said the suspension would give the committee time to review the policy document and address the concerns raised by the unions.

Toro, however, stressed that the condition of King’s College required urgent attention, particularly the deteriorating state of its facilities.

He said the union would continue to engage the government while allowing the committee to complete its assignment.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, also assured workers that no staff member at King’s College would be dismissed because of the new management arrangement.

He said the deployment of academic and non-academic personnel would follow the Public Service Rules.

Alausa further assured the unions that no staff member would be demonised, victimised or punished as a result of the development.

The minister said the government remained committed to dialogue with TUC and other stakeholders to ensure that the arrangement works in the national interest.

He also announced that all federal Unity Schools should resume academic activities immediately.

The development followed growing concerns over the plan to allow the King’s College Old Boys Association to continue managing the institution.

TUC had raised concerns over aspects of the arrangement and its possible implications for workers.

The fresh agreement now gives both sides time to examine the outstanding issues without disrupting academic activities.

The committee is expected to review further recommendations relating to the agreement already signed by the stakeholders.

The government said the engagement forms part of broader efforts to strengthen public educational institutions under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

For TUC, the suspension of industrial action provides room for further negotiations while keeping open the possibility of renewed action if the outstanding concerns are not satisfactorily resolved.

The union described the outcome as a win-win arrangement that allows dialogue to continue while addressing the urgent needs of King’s College.