Tinubu’s minister blocked from entering office
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, was on Wednesday blocked from entering the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja by protesting workers.
The workers gathered at the entrance of the ministry as Alausa’s motorcade arrived at the premises, preventing him from gaining access to his office.
The Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, was also reportedly prevented from entering the building.
The protesters could be heard chanting, “Alausa must go,” while blocking access to the ministry’s premises.
The action came amid growing tension over the Federal Government’s decision to concession King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA).
The Federal Ministry of Education had confirmed that the concession agreement had been concluded and directed the immediate commencement of the handover process.
A transition committee was also established and given six months to complete the transfer of management to the old boys’ association.
Under the arrangement, KCOBA is expected to take responsibility for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the college, while the Federal Government says it will retain legal ownership of the institution as well as its regulatory and monitoring powers.
The government has maintained that King’s College is not being sold or privatized.
According to the Federal Ministry of Information, the arrangement is a public-private partnership intended to attract investment for the rehabilitation and long-term management of the 117-year-old institution.
The government said the agreement covers the rehabilitation of classrooms, laboratories, hostels, libraries, staff quarters, health facilities, sports facilities and other parts of the school. It also provides for improved learning resources and digital facilities.
However, the concession has faced opposition from workers and some parents.
One major point of concern is the planned end of Federal Government funding after the six-month transition period stated in the ministry’s earlier directive.
Workers have also raised concerns about what will happen to teachers and other employees under the new management arrangement.
The ministry had directed that staff who wished to remain within the Federal Civil Service should have their names submitted through the appropriate process.
The unions subsequently opposed the concession and suspended the resumption of students in Federal Unity Colleges across the country, arguing that they did not want the schools sold, privatised or concessioned.
The dispute also led to the closure of Federal Unity Colleges as workers protested the King’s College arrangement and other issues affecting their welfare.
Alausa, however, later met with organized labour and other stakeholders over the dispute.
Following the meeting, he assured King’s College workers that no staff member would be dismissed or punished because of the disagreement.
A seven-member committee involving representatives of the Education Ministry, Labour Ministry, Trade Union Congress and King’s College Old Boys’ Association was also set up to review outstanding concerns and make recommendations.
The Federal Government has said the arrangement is intended to preserve the public character of King’s College while bringing in the money and management needed to improve the institution.
