The controversy surrounding the concession of King’s College, Lagos, took a fresh turn on Wednesday as the Federal Ministry of Education workers blocked Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, from entering his office.
The workers, who were seen carrying placards blocking the entrance to the ministry’s headquarters, also prevented Folake Olatunji-David, the acting permanent secretary, from entering her office.
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.
Meanwhile, the workers at the King’s College, Lagos, on Tuesday prevented the old boys’ leaders from accessing the school premises for their intended media parley.
Despite the presence of armed policemen and traditional leaders, who intervened to douse the tension, the workers insisted that the KCOBA leaders would not enter the main campus.
The protesting workers were seen protesting with placards, shouting, ‘We say no to concession, go to Abuja, go and buy your land and build your own schools. ‘Why are you destroying the system that made you?’
However, the leaders of KCOBA in their media brief clarified that the association has no intention to buy over the school, but is interested in rebuilding their alma mater.
Femi Okunnu, chairman of the board of trustees at King’s College Old Boys’ Association, clarified while addressing journalists amid protest from parents and workers of the institution.
‘We’re not acquiring King’s College, and the college is not for sale. We are returning to serve it, to help manage, support and rebuild the institution that shaped generations of Nigerians.
‘This is a matter of stewardship, of responsibility, of service rendered in gratitude and not a bid for possession,’ he said.