Workers of the Federal Ministry of Education on Wednesday blocked the entrance to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, preventing the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, from entering their offices.
The protest is the latest development in the ongoing dispute between ministry workers and the Federal Government over the proposed management arrangement for King’s College, Lagos.
A video shared online showed workers gathered at the entrance of the ministry as a motorcade reportedly conveying the minister arrived at the premises.
The protesters were heard chanting, “Alausa must go,” while blocking access to the ministry’s headquarters.
They also voiced opposition to the proposed arrangement involving King’s College, chanting, “We say no to concession of King’s College. King’s College is not for sale.”
The protest follows weeks of tension over the future management of the historic institution.
Workers’ unions have expressed concerns about the reported 35-year arrangement involving the King’s College Old Boys Association and have repeatedly called for greater clarity on the plan.
The unions have also raised issues relating to staff welfare and administrative matters within the ministry.
The latest action comes despite recent engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and labour leaders aimed at resolving the dispute through dialogue.
Earlier, the government assured workers that no member of staff would lose their job and announced the establishment of a committee to review concerns surrounding the King’s College arrangement.
However, Wednesday’s protest suggests that tensions remain unresolved, with workers continuing to demand answers over the future of the college and other issues affecting ministry staff.
The Federal Ministry of Education has yet to issue an official statement on the latest protest.
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