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 publicly owned.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, gave the clarification while explaining the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession agreement between the Federal Government and the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA).
Alausa said the agreement gives KCOBA responsibility for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the school, while the Federal Government retains legal title as well as 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 minister said.
He said the purpose of the arrangement was to mobilise the investment and management capacity needed to strengthen the institution.
“The purpose of the arrangement is to mobilise the investment and management capacity required to strengthen this important national institution,” Alausa said.
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 and fiscal-impact assessments, before securing the necessary regulatory and Federal Executive Council approvals.
The minister 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 KCOBA.
On admissions, Alausa said the school would continue to comply with applicable Unity College policies and the principles of merit, transparency, fairness and national representation.
He added that JSS1 admission would continue through a rigorous testing and assessment process, with the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) remaining central to the prescribed entry framework.
The minister also clarified that the agreement does not prescribe an automatic increase in school fees, although it does not establish a permanent fee freeze.
Alausa said the concession was 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, KCOBA is responsible for financing and implementing major rehabilitation and new development projects covering academic and administrative buildings, hostels, staff quarters, laboratories, libraries, dining and health facilities, utilities, sports facilities, landscaping, drainage and environmental works.
The programme also provides for new classrooms, laboratories and hostels, 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 minister said.
“The concession provides a framework for sustained infrastructure renewal, improved learning facilities and stronger operational capacity,” he added.
On concerns about teachers and other staff, 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 would remain the responsibility of the Federal Government unless expressly assumed by KCOBA.
Following the transition, he said KCOBA would assume responsibility for relevant operating expenditure, including salaries, benefits and allowances for personnel engaged under the project, in accordance with applicable contracts and the law.
Alausa further emphasised that the concession does not diminish government oversight, noting that 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.
He said the Federal Government also retains corrective and step-in powers in cases of persistent underperformance or serious contractual default.