ASCSN Suspends Strike, Says Joint Committee Will Examine Proposed PPP Arrangement
The Federal Government and organised labour have agreed to a two-week review of the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, following concerns over the planned Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and attended by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Folake Olatunji David.
The development followed an emergency meeting between the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), its parent body, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.
Following the meeting, ASCSN suspended its industrial action over the proposed concession and directed workers in Federal Unity Colleges nationwide to resume their duties.
A seven-member Joint Review Committee comprising labour representatives and other stakeholders was also established to examine the concession document presented by the Ministry.
The committee has two weeks to review the document and recommend amendments addressing concerns raised by labour and other stakeholders.
ASCSN National President, Shehu Mohammed, and Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo, said the Federal Government assured workers that their interests would be protected throughout the process.
According to the union, Alausa gave an “ironclad assurance” that no King’s College staff member would be victimised through retrenchment, posting or demotion as a result of the exercise. Staff will also be allowed to decide whether they wish to remain at the college.
ASCSN said the suspension of the strike was based on collective bargaining and the concessions made by the Federal Government, but warned that the action could resume without further notice if the review committee failed to address labour’s concerns.
The Ministry also clarified that the Federal Government would retain 100 per cent legal ownership and oversight of King’s College, while public access to the institution would continue under existing Federal Government policy.
On school fees, the Ministry assured labour that there would be no increase outside the government’s policy on affordable education applicable to Federal Unity Schools.