By Victor Ahiuma-Young
Tension surrounding the proposed Public-Private Partnership, PPP, concession of King’s College, Lagos, has eased following an agreement between the Federal Government and organised labour to review the controversial concession plan within two weeks.
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The development came after the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, alongside its parent body, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, held an emergency high-level meeting with the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.
The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, was attended by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Folake Olatunji David.
Following the meeting, ASCSN announced the immediate suspension of its industrial action over concerns surrounding the proposed concession model for King’s College and directed workers in Federal Unity Colleges nationwide to resume their normal duties.
ASCSN National President, Shehu Mohammed, and Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo, signed the statement announcing the suspension of the industrial action.
A major outcome of the meeting was the establishment of a seven-member Joint Review Committee comprising representatives of labour and other stakeholders.
The committee has been given a maximum of two weeks to examine the concession document presented by the Ministry and recommend amendments to address concerns raised by stakeholders.
The Federal Government also gave assurances on the protection of workers’ interests during the process.
According to ASCSN, the Minister of Education gave an “ironclad assurance” that no staff member of King’s College would be victimised through retrenchment, posting or demotion in the course of the exercise.
The union, however, said staff would be allowed to decide whether they wished to remain at the college.
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 in line with existing Federal Government policy.
On school fees, the Ministry assured labour that there would be no increase outside the Federal Government’s policy on affordable education applicable to Federal Unity Schools.
ASCSN said the decision to suspend the industrial action was taken in accordance with the principles of collective bargaining and in recognition of the concessions made by the Federal Government.
However, the union warned that the suspension was conditional.
It said it would consider reactivating the industrial action without further notice if the Joint Review Committee failed to accommodate the concerns raised by labour representatives.
The association consequently urged its chapter and unit executives to remain vigilant and closely monitor developments as the committee begins its assignment.
The latest development temporarily brings an end to the industrial action while opening a two-week window for the Federal Government and labour to seek common ground on the proposed concession of King’s College.
Vanguard News
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