The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has directed its affiliate unions to suspend the industrial action over the concession of King’s College, Lagos, following a meeting with the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
The directive followed an emergency meeting between Alausa and representatives of the TUC and other education-sector unions in Abuja on Monday.
The unions had earlier directed workers in federal unity colleges nationwide not to resume academic activities over concerns about the concession of King’s College to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) under a public-private partnership arrangement.
The action disrupted the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session in unity colleges across the country.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and other unions had raised concerns that the concession could lead to job losses among college workers.
However, Alausa assured the unions that no worker would lose their job as a result of the concession.
TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, said the unions’ concerns were presented and addressed during the meeting, adding that the suspension of the industrial action was not permanent.
He said the minister provided explanations on the issues raised by the unions.
Following the TUC directive, Alausa ordered all federal unity colleges to resume academic activities immediately.
The minister also announced the formation of a seven-member high-level committee to review additional recommendations for possible inclusion in the agreement already reached with the TUC.
The committee comprises two representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, including the Minister of State for Education and the Acting Permanent Secretary; one representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment; two senior TUC representatives; and two representatives of KCOBA.
Alausa said the committee has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its recommendations.
He also reaffirmed that all academic and non-academic staff of the affected schools would continue to be governed by the public service rules.