The Federal Government has suspended the implementation of the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the institution’s Old Boys’ Association for two weeks following protests by staff unions.
The decision was reached on Wednesday during a meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education and representatives of education-sector labour unions in Abuja.
The development followed growing opposition to the Federal Government’s plan to hand over the management of the 117-year-old institution to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association under a public-private partnership arrangement.
Under the five-point agreement reached at the meeting, the unions agreed to suspend their industrial action, while the government assured workers that no staff member would be victimised for participating in the protest.
The government also agreed to suspend the implementation of the management agreement for two weeks to allow a seven-member committee to review and negotiate the terms of the arrangement with the Old Boys’ Association.
Another key resolution was the withdrawal of police personnel deployed to the premises of King’s College.
The dispute had intensified on Tuesday when protesting workers prevented members of the Old Boys’ Association from entering the school premises. The confrontation led to police intervention and the deployment of a large number of officers to the school.
The workers had argued that the concession amounted to privatisation of a Federal Government-owned unity school and demanded that the arrangement be cancelled.
However, the Federal Government has maintained that King’s College was neither sold nor privatised, insisting that ownership remains with the government.
Heavy Police Presence at School
Earlier on Wednesday, police officers and vehicles were stationed around the school following Tuesday’s confrontation.
Roads around the main entrance were reportedly cordoned off, with motorists travelling from the Tafawa Balewa Square axis towards CMS diverted to alternative routes.
The Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, King’s College chapter, Sam Enang, said staff members stayed away from the school gate after receiving information about the heavy police deployment.
Enang said the police presence began as early as 3am, with several divisions and security vehicles deployed around the school.
He said the workers deliberately avoided mobilising to the premises to prevent another confrontation and possible injuries.
According to him, members of the Old Boys’ Association were escorted around the school by armed police officers while staff members remained away from the premises.
Despite the latest development, Enang said the unions would continue to oppose the concession.
He said the workers’ position remained that there would be no resumption of normal activities until the concession issue was resolved.
Old Boys Defend Management Plan
The President of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, defended the proposed arrangement, insisting that the association was not taking ownership of the school.
He said King’s College would remain the property of the Federal Government, while the association’s role would be limited to managing and improving the institution.
Ibrahim-Imam said the association planned to improve teachers’ welfare and training and proposed doubling the salaries and allowances of teachers as an initial step.
He also rejected concerns that the concession would result in higher school fees or turn the institution into an exclusive school for wealthy families.
According to him, the association intends to preserve the national character of King’s College and ensure that children from different parts of the country and disadvantaged backgrounds continue to have access to the institution.
He also called for greater transparency in the management of the school’s finances, including funds generated through Parent-Teacher Association levies and other revenue sources.
The Old Boys’ Association also plans to rehabilitate dilapidated structures and improve facilities at the college.
FG Says Other Unity Colleges Not Affected
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, separately clarified that the proposed King’s College management arrangement would not be extended to other Federal Government Unity Colleges.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Alausa said the agreement with the King’s College Old Boys’ Association was an isolated arrangement and did not represent a new policy of transferring the management of Unity Colleges to private organisations.
He said the Federal Government remained responsible for funding the rehabilitation of other Unity Colleges.
According to the minister, the government was exploring alternative funding sources to address the infrastructure deficit in the schools.
Alausa disclosed that approval had been secured to repurpose about $20m from a World Bank-supported programme for school rehabilitation, with about 20 Unity Colleges initially selected for the intervention.
He noted that rehabilitating Unity Colleges in the South-West alone would require nearly N100bn.
The minister explained that the decision involving King’s College was prompted by the severe deterioration of infrastructure at the school and the willingness of its Old Boys’ Association to mobilise substantial resources through a non-profit foundation.
He stressed that the arrangement would not transfer ownership of the school to the association.
Alausa added that the agreement would be monitored through key performance indicators, while the Ministry of Education had established an implementation and monitoring team to conduct inspections and ensure compliance.
He also reiterated that school fees would not be increased under the arrangement.
No Teacher Will Lose Job — Minister
The Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, also assured that no teacher would lose their job because of the King’s College arrangement.
Ahmad said teachers affected by any redeployment had been allowed to indicate their preferred locations in line with the Public Service Rules.
She added that the government was implementing teacher training and capacity-building programmes as part of efforts to improve educational standards across Unity Colleges.
The minister said the government was willing to consider legitimate concerns raised by the unions and other stakeholders.
She disclosed that a committee had been established to review the agreement, with union representatives expected to participate in monitoring its implementation.
Ahmad said the government’s objective was to restore the quality and reputation historically associated with Nigeria’s Unity Colleges.
She acknowledged that the deterioration of standards and infrastructure had occurred over several decades and would require sustained investment.
The minister added that the government was considering different public-private partnership models for the rehabilitation of Unity Colleges, citing the Kano model as one of the options being examined.
