Workers of the Federal Ministry of Education on Wednesday morning blocked the entrance to the ministry’s headquarters, preventing the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, from entering their offices.

A video circulating on X showed workers gathered at the entrance as a motorcade reportedly conveying the minister arrived at the premises.

The protesters could be heard chanting, “Alausa must go,” while blocking access to the ministry’s premises.

The development comes amid an ongoing dispute between the ministry’s workers and the Federal Government over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, as well as other issues raised by the workers’ unions.

The unions have previously demanded the removal of the minister and expressed opposition to the reported 35-year concession of the college to its old boys’ association.

The workers have also raised concerns over staff welfare and other administrative issues within the ministry.

The latest protest indicates that tensions between the ministry’s management and the workers remain unresolved despite recent engagements between the two sides.

The Lagos State University branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-LASU) has declared a total and indefinite strike over what it described as the failure of the government to implement the 2025 ASUU/FGN Agreement.

The union announced the decision on Tuesday, September 15, following a congress at which members resolved to commence the industrial action.

In a statement signed by the Secretary of the ASUU-LASU Steering Committee, Comrade Thanny Nooem, and the Coordinator, Comrade Oluwaseun Babalola, the union said the decision followed months of what it described as “patient and constructive engagement” with the government without a resolution of the issues in dispute.

“This unfortunate and avoidable action has become necessary due to the continued failure of the Government to address the Union’s longstanding agitation over the implementation of the 2025 ASUU/FGN Agreement,” the statement said.

ASUU-LASU said it was seeking the “full domestication and implementation of the 2025 ASUU/FGN Agreement” as a condition for resolving the dispute.

“The strike shall be total and comprehensive until there is a satisfactory resolution of the issues in dispute,” the union said.

The union expressed regret over the development, saying previous efforts to resolve the matter through engagement had not produced the desired outcome.

The industrial action is expected to affect teaching and other academic activities at Lagos State University, including its Ojo campus and other campuses, pending further developments.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has suspended the industrial action it earlier directed its affiliates to shut Federal Unity Colleges over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, even as government insists implementation of the arrangement for the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) to continue managing the school would proceed.

The TUC General Secretary, Mr Nuhu Toro, announced the suspension at the end of a meeting with the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and other stakeholders on Monday in Abuja.

Toro described the meeting as fruitful and robust, saying the concerns of the unions were presented and considered in good faith.

He said the suspension would allow a newly constituted committee to undertake its assignment and consider the issues raised by the unions.

Toro, however, stressed that the suspension did not mean that the industrial action had been permanently called off.

He said the unions would monitor the outcome of the committee’s assignment and could resume the action if they were not satisfied with its recommendations.

“The issues bothering us have been laid bare, and of course, those that were critical to us were also brought to the fore,” Toro said.

He said the minister had also provided explanations on the concerns raised by the unions during the meeting.

Toro said the development had prompted the unions to “stand down the action” and suspend the directive earlier issued to their affiliates to withdraw their services.

He said the suspension was necessary to give the committee an opportunity to complete its work and make recommendations on the issues in contention.

The TUC general secretary cautioned that the suspension should not be interpreted as a final withdrawal of the industrial action.

“Suspending an action is not calling off,” he said, stressing that the unions could resume the action immediately if they were dissatisfied with the committee’s outcome.

Toro welcomed the establishment of the committee, saying it would enable the unions to examine the relevant policy document and make further contributions.

He said the parties would reconvene within the stipulated period to consider the committee’s recommendations and determine the next steps.

Toro also called for urgent attention to the condition of King’s College, stressing that the existing situation should not be allowed to continue.

He said the dilapidated state of the institution required urgent government intervention to improve the learning environment for students.

The TUC official described the outcome of the engagement as a win-win situation, saying the unions had secured assurances on the concerns of their members.

He added that the government had demonstrated willingness to revisit issues requiring further consideration through the committee.

Meanwhile, Alausa directed all Federal Unity Colleges to resume academic activities immediately following the suspension of the industrial action.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to continued engagement with the unions and other stakeholders on the King’s College management arrangement.

He said the process would be guided by mutual respect, the law and the national interest.

Alausa assured stakeholders that the government would continue to work with them to strengthen King’s College, preserve its heritage and improve the learning environment.

He also assured the unions that no staff member would be dismissed over the management arrangement involving the institution.

The minister said the deployment of academic and non-academic staff would continue to be handled in accordance with the Public Service Rules.

He said implementation of the arrangement for the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) to continue managing the school would proceed.

Alausa, however, announced the constitution of a seven-member high-level committee to consider additional recommendations that could be incorporated into the agreement already signed.

He said the committee comprised 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 had two weeks to complete its assignment and submit recommendations, stressing that all academic and non-academic staff would continue to be treated in accordance with the Public Service Rules.

He added that “No staff will be dismissed, demonised or punished as a result of the issues under consideration.”