The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has suspended its industrial action over the controversial Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession model for King’s College, Lagos, warning however that the suspension is conditional.
The association conveyed this in a press statement signed by National President Comrade Shehu Mohammed and Secretary-General Comrade Joshua Apebo.
It said if the committee fails to accommodate concerns raised by labour representatives, it will not hesitate to reactivate the strike without further notice.
The decision to suspend the action with immediate effect was sequel to an emergency high-level meeting with the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.
The meeting was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, with the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr. Folake Olatunji David, in attendance.
The group said the Minister gave an explicit assurance that no staff of the college will be victimised in any form, either by retrenchment, posting or demotion, adding that staff will be at liberty to decide on their retention in the college.
The Ministry also reclarified that the Federal Government maintains 100 percent legal ownership and oversight of King’s College and that public access to the institution will remain in line with Federal Government policy, while affirming that there will be no school fees increase outside the Federal Government policy on affordable education as it applies to all Federal Unity Schools.
A major decision at the meeting was the establishment of a seven-member Joint Review Committee, including labour representations, to comprehensively review the document presented by the Federal Ministry of Education for implementation in order to address stakeholders’ concerns regarding the concession.
The committee has a maximum of two weeks to identify areas of concern and make recommendations for inclusion in the document.
The ASCSN leadership, alongside its parent body, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said it took the decision in strict compliance with the principles of collective bargaining and in appreciation of members’ steadfastness, unity and resilience.
It directed members across all Federal Unity Colleges nationwide to resume their normal official duties while awaiting further directives, urging chapter and unit executives to remain vigilant and monitor developments closely as the committee commences its work.