TUC Halts King's College Strike After FG Job Protection Pledge

Nigeria's Trade Union Congress has ordered the suspension of industrial action against the Federal Government's decision to hand over King's College, Lagos, to the King's College Old Boys' Association under a public-private partnership arrangement. The directive came after TUC General Secretary Nuhu Toro met with Education Minister Tunji Alausa in Abuja on Monday, where officials gave assurances regarding employment security for affected staff.

The concession plan had triggered a sharp response from unions representing workers across Nigeria's 120 federal government colleges. Multiple unions coordinated a "no resumption" directive that forced widespread school closures at the start of the 2026/2027 academic session, with workers and parents blocking college gates and picketing the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in protest.

Sources differ on whether the shutdown affected all colleges nationwide or specific institutions, but the disruption was substantial enough to halt the academic calendar. Under the suspension agreement, a seven-member committee will be established to examine union grievances about the King's College management transfer.

The TUC has signalled that industrial action could resume if the committee's review produces unsatisfactory results. Labour leaders had warned that privatising King's College could set a precedent for transferring other federal colleges to private entities.

The shutdown marked an escalation of tensions over the privatisation model. Before the suspension, workers had expressed concern that the concession arrangement threatened job security and posed a threat to the public education system.

The government's commitment to protect worker employment became the basis for unions to pause their coordinated action, though disagreements remain unresolved pending the committee review.