King’s College Not Sold, FG Clarifies

The Federal Government has clarified that King’s College, Lagos, has not been sold, following growing controversy over the decision to concession the management of the 117-year-old institution to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association.

The clarification comes amid protests and opposition from parents and staff, who have raised concerns that the concession could affect the school’s public status, affordability and continued government funding.

The arrangement involves the Federal Government transferring the management and development of the school to the old boys’ association under a concession agreement. The government had directed that the transition process begin immediately and be completed within six months.

The Federal Ministry of Education has maintained that the arrangement is a concession and not a sale or outright privatisation of King’s College. The old boys’ association has also insisted that it is partnering with the government to restore, modernise and sustain the institution rather than take ownership of it.

However, the development has generated strong reactions from parents and workers. The school’s Parent-Teacher Association has opposed the arrangement, arguing that students were admitted into King’s College as a Federal Government institution and should be allowed to complete their education under the same public arrangement.

The PTA has also expressed concern that the new management structure could eventually lead to higher fees and make the school less accessible to children from low-income families. It has demanded greater transparency and access to the details of the concession agreement.

The controversy has also affected the school’s operations, with staff shutting the institution amid the disagreement. The planned resumption of students was consequently thrown into uncertainty as stakeholders sought clarification from the government.

Under the arrangement, the Federal Government is expected to stop funding the college from the Federation Account after the six-month transition period. This aspect has become one of the major concerns raised by parents and workers who believe government should continue to take responsibility for a public institution.

The dispute has now shifted attention to what the concession agreement actually provides and how the school will be managed after the transition. While the government and KCOBA insist that King’s College remains a public institution, opponents are demanding stronger guarantees that its public character, affordability and access will be protected.

For now, the Federal Government’s position is that King’s College has not been sold, but its management is being transferred under a concession arrangement intended to improve and sustain the institution.

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