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

A video shared on X showed workers gathered at the gate as a motorcade said to be carrying the minister arrived. The crowd chanted “Alausa must go” while refusing to let anyone through.

What is behind the protest

The standoff is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between ministry workers and the Federal Government over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos. The unions have opposed the reported 35-year concession of the school to its old boys’ association, and they have also called for the minister’s removal.

Beyond King’s College, workers have raised concerns about staff welfare and other administrative issues within the ministry.

Talks have not settled the matter

The two sides have met in recent weeks, but Wednesday’s protest suggests those engagements have not resolved the underlying tensions between ministry management and the workers.