The Federal Government has denied rumours stating that King’s College Lagos, has been privatised, insisting that the 117-year-old institution remains publicly owned and under its legal control.
The clarification followed concerns over the government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession agreement with the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA), which the government said was designed to mobilise private investment and management capacity to finance, rehabilitate, modernise and sustain the institution.
Speaking on the development on Friday, the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, said the concession did not transfer ownership of the school to KCOBA, stressing that the Federal Government retained legal title as well as its statutory powers to regulate, monitor, inspect and enforce standards at the institution.
Alausa assured Nigerians, particularly members of the King’s College community, that the agreement was not a sale of the institution, adding that the arrangement was intended to strengthen the school while preserving its public character and national identity.
According to him, the concession was developed under the established PPP framework and subjected to technical, economic, financial, legal, environmental and social assessments, including value-for-money analysis, fiscal-impact assessment, risk allocation and commercial structuring, before obtaining the required regulatory and Federal Executive Council approvals.
The Minister stressed that the agreement expressly protects the public character of King’s College and does not create any proprietary interest in favour of KCOBA, meaning the old boys’ association would not become the owner of the institution.
He assured stakeholders that admissions would continue under applicable Unity College policies, with emphasis on merit, transparency, fairness and national representation, including equitable representation of candidates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, subject to prescribed merit requirements.
He added that admission into JSS1 would also continue through the established testing and assessment process, with the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) remaining central to the prescribed entry framework.
On concerns over school fees, Alausa clarified that the concession agreement does not provide for an automatic increase in fees, although it also does not establish a permanent freeze on the fees payable by students.
The Minister explained that the concession was primarily designed to address the significant infrastructure and operational needs of the 117-year-old institution and provide a sustainable framework for its long-term development.
Under the agreement, KCOBA is expected to finance and implement major rehabilitation and new development projects covering academic and administrative buildings, hostels, staff quarters, laboratories, libraries, dining facilities, health facilities, utilities, sports and recreational facilities, landscaping, drainage and other environmental works.
The programme also includes the provision of new classrooms, laboratories and hostels, alongside improvements in sports facilities, learning resources and digital tools aimed at enhancing the quality of education and the overall student experience.
Alausa said the investment was necessary to preserve the institution’s historic legacy while ensuring that its facilities and operations meet the needs of present and future generations.
On the welfare of teachers and other members of staff, the Minister said the agreement contains a formal Staff Transition and Protection Framework to ensure an orderly transition while protecting staff welfare and maintaining continuity in teaching, boarding, security and other essential services.
He explained that existing employment obligations, liabilities, arrears, pensions, gratuities and other staff-related entitlements arising before the transition would remain the responsibility of the government unless expressly assumed by KCOBA.
The statement read partly, “Following transition, King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) assumes responsibility for relevant operating expenditure, including salaries, benefits and allowances for personnel engaged under the Project, in accordance with applicable contracts and law.
“The Minister emphasised” that the concession does not diminish Government oversight. The Agreement provides for measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), infrastructure and asset- condition standards, academic and student-development measures, reporting requirements, audits, inspections and independent verification.
“Government retains corrective and step-in powers in cases of persistent underperformance or serious contractual default. King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) is also restricted from selling, transferring or otherwise disposing of concession assets without required approvals, while asset stripping and deterioration beyond agreed standards are prohibited.
“The Minister further explained that the Agreement does not provide for a conventional monetary concession fee. Instead, King’s College’s Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) obligations include capital investment, operational funding, infrastructure modernisation, institutional strengthening and measurable performance.
“He said the Federal Government welcomes legitimate scrutiny and urged stakeholders to judge the arrangement by its implementation, transparency and measurable results, particularly improvements in infrastructure, academic performance, admissions, staff welfare, student safety and wellbeing, proper utilisation of Project funds and compliance with agreed KPIs.
“Our responsibility is to protect the integrity and public purpose of King’s College while ensuring that the institution receives the investment, infrastructure and management capacity required to meet the needs of present and future generations. We will continue to monitor implementation and hold all parties to their contractual obligations,” the Minister assured.
“The Minister called on the King’s College community and the Nigerian public to engage the substance of the Concession Agreement and assess the arrangement on the basis of its safeguards, investment obligations, implementation and results.
“King’s College is a national heritage institution. The objective is not merely to preserve its past, but to build an institution worthy of its history, strengthened for the present and equipped for the future.”