The Federal government has declared that it will proceed with the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, despite mounting opposition from workers, parents and other stakeholders.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said this on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing journalists.
He disclosed that the government followed due process in reaching the decision and remains committed to the concession as part of efforts to improve the school’s infrastructure, resources, and overall management.
The minister maintained that the proposed concession is not an abandonment of the institution by the Federal government, but a move intended to address infrastructure and management challenges and improve the quality of education at the college.
Alausa alleged that some directors in the ministry are fueling the controversy by mobilising workers against the government’s decision.
He alleged that some union members and what he described as “unscrupulous” ministry staff are deliberately circulating misinformation about the concession.
“Misinformation has been going around, perpetuated by union members and unscrupulous members of staff of the Federal Ministry of Education,” he said.
Alausa also took a swipe at the Parent-Teacher Association of King’s College, accusing the body of turning admission into a lucrative enterprise and allegedly demanding as much as N20 million from prospective students.
“The PTA of King’s College has turned admission into King’s College into a criminal enterprise,” he alleged.
His declaration came amid escalating opposition by workers in the ministry and other stakeholders, who have raised concerns over the concession of the 117-year-old institution to the King’s College Old Boys Association.
According to him, the alumni had spent over N2 billion on the institution with nothing to show for it.
He explained that, contrary to reports circulated by the workers, the school was not for sale, stressing that the Federal government would retain full ownership of the school despite the proposed management arrangement with the Old Boys Association.
“We haven’t sold it to them. The property still remains Federal government property,” Alausa said, insisting that the government retains 100 per cent ownership of the school.
Alausa also assured workers that the proposed management arrangement would not result in job losses or demotions, stressing that affected staff would retain their appointments and existing levels within the public service.
He said the government had considered workers’ concerns and would ensure their employment rights and benefits were protected throughout the process.
He explained that workers affected by the arrangement would have the option to be redeployed to other federal institutions within the education sector where their services were needed.
According to him, teachers and non-academic staff could be posted to other Unity Colleges and federal institutions, with the government maintaining that no worker would be forced out of employment as a result of the proposed concession.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, said the Federal government has no plans to extend the proposed concession arrangement to other Unity Colleges across the country.
She stressed that the initiative was specific to King’s College, Lagos, and should not be interpreted as a broader plan to transfer the management or ownership of other Federal Unity Colleges to private organisations or alumni associations.
Ahmad said the government remained committed to protecting the public ownership of the Unity Colleges, while exploring measures to address their infrastructure and management challenges.
She maintained that the proposed arrangement for King’s College is being considered as an intervention to improve the school’s facilities and restore its standards, rather than as a move to sell off Federal government properties.