The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has kicked against the Federal Government’s planned concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA), describing the arrangement as a threat to public education and the rights of teachers.
The NUT President, Comrade Titus Amba, made the position of the union known on Monday during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abuja.
He was represented at the event by the Deputy National President of the union, Comrade Kizito Kalu.
Amba said while the union recognised the contributions of old students and other stakeholders to the development of educational institutions, it strongly opposed the transfer of the management and operational responsibility of King’s College to a private association.
According to him, the concession represents “a dangerous departure from the principle of public education” and poses a serious threat to the employment security, professional autonomy and workplace rights of teachers.
“May I reiterate the position of the NUT that education is a fundamental human right and a core responsibility of government,” he said.
The union president therefore called on the Federal Government to reverse the concession arrangement and commence meaningful consultations with critical stakeholders, including teachers and parents.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Education to resolve the controversy surrounding the arrangement, as well as other lingering issues affecting teachers, in the interest of industrial peace and quality education.
The NUT also raised concerns over what it described as the denial of teachers who had voluntarily applied to join the union of their choice.
The union further complained about the stagnation of teachers, particularly Education Officers, at the directorate cadre without promotion for between 13 and 15 years.
It also called for the payment of outstanding arrears relating to promotions, duty travel allowance (DTA) and other entitlements.
The NUT equally alleged that teachers under the Ministries of Defence and Police Affairs, as well as the Department of State Services (DSS), had been denied the right to unionise.
The union’s position came amid renewed controversy over the Federal Government’s decision to concession King’s College, Lagos, to KCOBA under a public-private partnership arrangement.
The Federal Government, however, had insisted that there was no going back on the planned concession, while assuring workers that no member of staff would be dismissed as a result of the arrangement.
The Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, gave the assurance after an emergency meeting with the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and other affiliated unions over the controversy.
The meeting followed the disruption of academic activities in federal unity colleges after the unions directed their members to suspend work over concerns about the proposed management arrangement for King’s College.
Alausa said the agreement with KCOBA would proceed but announced the constitution of a seven-member high-level committee to review the outstanding concerns raised by the unions and make recommendations that could be incorporated into the existing agreement.
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-level representatives of the TUC; and two representatives of KCOBA.
The minister said the committee would have one to two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its recommendations.
He also gave a categorical assurance that no member of staff of King’s College would be dismissed because of the concession arrangement.
According to him, both academic and non-academic staff would continue to be treated in accordance with the Public Service Rules, with no infringement of the rules regarding their deployment.
“There will be no demonisation or punishment of any member of staff arising from these issues,” he assured.
The Federal Government has maintained that King’s College is not being sold and remains publicly owned, explaining that KCOBA is expected to finance, rehabilitate, modernise, operate and maintain the institution.
KCOBA had earlier announced a N100 billion endowment fund as part of its plans to reposition the 117-year-old institution, improve its infrastructure and enhance the learning environment.
Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, TUC General Secretary, Comrade Nuhu Toro, described the engagement as fruitful and robust, saying the concerns of the unions were presented and considered in good faith.
Toro announced that the TUC would suspend the industrial action earlier directed against its affiliates to allow the newly constituted committee to carry out its assignment.
He, however, said the unions reserved the right to resume the suspended action if the issues were not satisfactorily resolved.
The TUC leader welcomed the constitution of the committee, saying it would enable the unions to examine the relevant policy document, raise their concerns and make contributions before the parties reconvene.
Following the resolution, the Federal Government directed all federal unity colleges affected by the industrial action to resume academic activities immediately.
The controversy had also attracted protests by parents and other stakeholders at King’s College, with some opposing the proposed concession to KCOBA and threatening legal action.
The Federal Government has nevertheless maintained that the arrangement is part of efforts to strengthen public educational institutions, improve infrastructure and create a better learning environment.
Alausa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continued dialogue with workers and other stakeholders, saying the process would be guided by the law, mutual respect and the national interest.