The Federal Government has clarified that King’s College, Lagos, has not been sold or privatised, stressing that the 117-year-old institution remains publicly owned. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the Federal Government retained the legal title to the school despite the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession agreement with the King’s……
The Federal Government has clarified that King’s College, Lagos, has not been sold or privatised, stressing that the 117-year-old institution remains publicly owned.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the Federal Government retained the legal title to the school despite the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession agreement with the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA).
Alausa made the clarification in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Boriowo Folasade, on Friday, September 11, amid concerns over the concession arrangement.
“Let me assure Nigerians, particularly the King’s College community, that this concession is not a sale of King’s College. Government has retained legal title to the institution and will continue to exercise its oversight responsibilities,” the minister said.
Under the agreement, KCOBA is responsible for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the school, while the Federal Government retains its statutory, regulatory, monitoring, inspection and enforcement powers.
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Alausa said the arrangement was designed to mobilise the investment and management capacity needed to address the institution’s infrastructure and operational challenges.
“The purpose of the arrangement is to mobilise the investment and management capacity required to strengthen this important national institution,” he said.
The minister said the concession followed the established PPP framework and underwent technical, economic, financial, legal, environmental and social assessments, as well as value-for-money and fiscal-impact assessments before receiving the required regulatory and Federal Executive Council approvals.
He stressed that the agreement protects the public character and national identity of King’s College and does not transfer ownership or create a proprietary interest in favour of KCOBA.
Alausa said admissions into the institution would continue to follow applicable Unity College policies, with emphasis on merit, transparency, fairness and national representation.
He said admission would continue to provide for equitable representation from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, subject to applicable merit requirements.
According to him, admission into JSS1 would continue through testing and assessment, with the National Common Entrance Examination remaining central to the prescribed entry process.
The minister also clarified that the agreement does not provide for an automatic increase in school fees, although it does not establish a permanent freeze on fees.
Under the concession, KCOBA is expected to finance and implement major rehabilitation and new development projects at the school.
The projects cover academic and administrative buildings, hostels, staff quarters, laboratories, libraries, dining and health facilities, utilities, sports and recreational facilities, landscaping, drainage and environmental works.
The programme also includes new classrooms, laboratories and hostels, alongside improved learning resources and digital tools.
“King’s College is an institution with a remarkable history, but preserving that history requires us to invest in its future,” Alausa said.
“The concession provides a framework for sustained infrastructure renewal, improved learning facilities and stronger operational capacity,” he added.
The minister said the agreement contains a Staff Transition and Protection Framework to facilitate the transition while safeguarding staff welfare and ensuring continuity of 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 Federal Government unless expressly assumed by KCOBA.
Following the transition, KCOBA would assume responsibility for relevant operating expenses, including salaries, benefits and allowances for personnel engaged under the project, in line with applicable contracts and laws.
Alausa also stressed that the concession would not remove government oversight of the institution.
He said the agreement provides for measurable Key Performance Indicators, infrastructure and asset-condition standards, academic and student-development measures, reporting requirements, audits, inspections and independent verification.
The Federal Government also retains corrective and step-in powers where there is persistent underperformance or serious contractual default.
KCOBA is prohibited from selling, transferring or disposing of concession assets without the required approvals, while asset stripping and deterioration beyond agreed standards are also prohibited.
The minister further said the agreement does not involve a conventional monetary concession fee.
Instead, he said KCOBA’s obligations include capital investment, operational funding, infrastructure modernisation, institutional strengthening and measurable performance.
Alausa urged stakeholders to assess the arrangement based on its implementation, transparency and measurable outcomes, including improvements in infrastructure, academic performance, admissions, staff welfare, student safety and the utilisation of project funds.
“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,” he said.
“We will continue to monitor implementation and hold all parties to their contractual obligations,” the minister added.
