By Editor
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has suspended the industrial action embarked upon in protest against the federal government’s concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the school’s old boys association.
In a statement on Friday by Gamaliel Acho, its secretary-general, the union directed teachers across Federal Unity Colleges nationwide to resume classes with immediate effect.
The development follows the two-week suspension of the concession a seven-member committee set up to review the arrangement and come up with recommendations.
The decision was reached at the end of a meeting between the federal ministry of education and the organised labour unions in Abuja on Thursday.
Acho said ASCSN has directed its members to suspend the industrial action pending the outcome of the review, in line with the reached agreement with the government.
The union commended Tunji Alausa, minister of education, and other officials of the ministry for their willingness to engage and address the concerns raised over the concession.
“ASCSN notes the immediate withdrawal of the police detachment deployed to King’s College, Lagos, and the agreement that no staff member shall be victimised, harassed, sanctioned or punished for participating in the industrial action arising from the dispute,” the statement reads.
The association urged its members to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the agreed process takes place, adding that the suspension of the action is a step towards resolution and does not constitute abandonment of the issues that necessitated it.
BACK STORY
In recent weeks, parents and teachers of the college have staged protests against attempts by Kings College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) to take over the school’s management in furtherance of the arrangement reached with the government.
The tension grew on Monday when schools officially resumed and members of the ASCSN declared an industrial action, disrupting resumption across unity colleges nationwide.
However, Alausa summoned an emergency meeting with the workers’ union, including the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Following the meeting, the TUC urged ASCSN to suspend the industrial action, while Alausa called on all staff and students of unity colleges to resume the following day.
King’s College staff and parents, however, blocked members of KCOBA from accessing the school for any activity.
The development degenerated into a fracas, prompting the intervention of men of the Lagos police command, who has since manned the school premises.
