Workers of the Federal Ministry of Education on Wednesday blocked access 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.
The workers gathered at the entrance of the ministry as a motorcade reportedly conveying the minister arrived at the premises, forcing the officials to remain outside.
The protest took place on Wednesday morning amid growing tensions between the ministry’s management and its workers over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, as well as other concerns raised by the unions.
Videos from the scene showed the workers chanting “Alausa must go” while maintaining their position at the entrance and denying access to the ministry’s premises.
The unions have opposed the reported plan to concession the Lagos college to its old boys’ association for 35 years, arguing against the arrangement.
Apart from the controversy surrounding King’s College, the workers have also raised concerns over staff welfare and other administrative matters within the ministry.
The latest action indicates that the disagreements between the ministry’s management and the workers have persisted despite engagements previously held between the two sides.
The protest has further disrupted activities at the ministry’s headquarters, with the workers’ demand for changes in the ministry’s leadership remaining a major feature of the demonstration.
