Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Federal Government has reassured students, parents, staff, alumni, and the general public
that King’s College, Lagos, has not been sold or privatised, stressing that the institution remains a publicly owned national institution, with legal title retained by the Federal Government. This was contained in a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press, and Public Relations.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa stated this while clarifying the
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession with the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA).
The Minister explained that, under the Concession Agreement, King’s College Old Boys’
Association (KCOBA) assumes responsibility for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating
and maintaining the school, while the Federal Government retains legal title and its statutory,
regulatory, monitoring, inspection, and enforcement powers.
“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 purpose of the arrangement is to mobilise the
investment and management capacity required to strengthen this important national institution,” the Minister said.
Dr. Alausa explained that the concession was developed under the established PPP framework and subjected to requisite technical, economic, financial, legal, environmental, and social assessments, value-for-money analysis, fiscal-impact assessment, risk allocation, and commercial
structuring before securing the necessary regulatory and Federal Executive Council approvals.
He stressed that the Agreement expressly protects the public character and national identity of King’s College and does not transfer ownership or create a proprietary interest in favour of King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA).
According to the Minister, admissions will continue to comply with applicable Unity College policies and the principles of merit, transparency, fairness, and national representation, including equitable representation from the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, subject to
applicable merit requirements. JSS1 admission will continue through a rigorous testing and
assessment process, with the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) central to the
prescribed entry framework.
The Minister also clarified that the Agreement does not prescribe an automatic increase in school
fees, while noting that it does not establish a permanent fee freeze.
Dr. Alausa said the concession is principally designed to address the significant infrastructure and operational requirements of the 117-year-old institution and secure its long-term sustainability.
Under the Agreement, King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) is responsible for financing and implementing major rehabilitation and new development covering academic and
administrative buildings, hostels, staff quarters, laboratories, libraries, dining facilities, health
facilities, utilities, sports and recreational facilities, landscaping, drainage, and environmental
works.
The programme also provides for new classrooms, laboratories, hostels, and specified sports facilities, as well as 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. The concession provides a framework for sustained infrastructure renewal, improved learning facilities, and stronger operational capacity,” the Minister said.
On concerns regarding teachers and other staff, Dr. Alausa said the Agreement contains a formal Staff Transition and Protection Framework designed to facilitate an orderly transition while
protecting staff welfare and ensuring continuity of teaching, boarding, security, and other
essential school services.
He explained that existing employment obligations, liabilities, arrears, pensions, gratuities, and
other staff-related entitlements arising before the transition remain the responsibility of the Grantor unless expressly assumed by King’s College Old Boy’ Association (KCOBA).
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 assetcondition standards, academic and student-development measures, reporting requirements,
audits, inspections, and independent verification.
The 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.
END
