The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has directed its affiliate unions to suspend industrial action over the concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) under a public-private partnership arrangement.
The directive was issued on Monday by the TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, after an emergency meeting with the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, in Abuja.
The dispute had led the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and other unions within the Ministry of Education to direct workers in federal unity colleges nationwide not to resume academic activities until further notice.
The industrial action disrupted the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session across federal unity colleges.
The unions had expressed concerns that the proposed concession could threaten the jobs of thousands of workers in the affected institutions.
However, at the meeting, Alausa assured the unions that no worker would lose their job as a result of the concession.
Speaking after the meeting, Toro said the unions had presented their concerns and that the issues were considered in good faith.
He, however, stressed that the suspension of the industrial action was not permanent, noting that the minister had provided explanations on the issues raised by the unions.
“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.
Following the TUC’s directive, Alausa ordered all federal unity colleges to resume academic activities immediately.
The minister also announced the establishment of a seven-member high-level committee to consider additional recommendations for possible incorporation into the agreement already signed with the TUC.
The committee comprises 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 TUC representatives; and two representatives of KCOBA.
Alausa said the committee had two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its recommendations.
He further assured workers that both academic and non-academic staff would continue to be governed by the public service rules.
The development temporarily eases the dispute between the Federal Government and the education sector unions, although the TUC’s position that the suspension is not permanent suggests that the unions could reconsider industrial action if their outstanding concerns are not adequately addressed.
