Recently, hundreds of parents and staff of King’s College, Lagos took to the streets with placards reading “King’s College is not for sale” and “Federal Government, we say no to concession.” Their anger was directed at a proposed plan to hand the management of one of Nigeria’s most prestigious federal government colleges to the Old Boys Association (KCOBA).
The protesters even demanded the suspension of the school’s resumption slated for September 13, with the PTA Chairman, Engr. Oluwaleye Peter, going further to threaten court action if the federal government failed to speak up, which the Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa did by saying “We haven’t sold it to them (KCOBA). The property remains federal government property,” insisting that it retains 100 per cent ownership of the school.
We join them in condemning the move and demand better response from the Federal Ministry of Education.
We also note that this is not the first attempt and this controversy did not begin today. There was a similar attempt during the tenure of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili as Minister of Education. It was resisted then, and it must be resisted now, but through lawful means. King’s College and all the unity schools across the country were not established to be traded, concessioned, or handed over anytime budgetary pressures arise. Founded in 1909 as a national institution to produce leaders of character and learning for the country, it is going to be a disservice to now reduce the King’s College to a “cash cow,” as the PTA chairman alleged. This truly negates the very purpose for which the school was established.
King’s College is a national pride. It belongs to every Nigerian child who dreams of walking its gates, not just to a select group of alumni. It should not be joked with.
If a concession is being considered, Nigerians deserve answers to basic questions. Is the government moving to concession all Unity Schools? If King’s College goes, what stops the same template from being applied to the other federal government colleges? Does this mean there is no money to run these schools? If so, say so openly and let us have a national debate on funding public education instead of backdoor concessions.These were the questions Nigerians were asking and which the Minister has answered though belatedly, This kind of arrangement should have been very noble had the stakeholders-the PTA, the staff Union been carried along.
Again, is the old boys association registered to run a school? KCOBA is a commendable alumni body, but does it have the legal, financial and administrative capacity to run a federal institution accountable to the Nigerian public? What safeguards exist for admission, fees, staff welfare and standards?
The argument that “old boys will do better” is sentimental, not structural. Without clear legislation, oversight, and public guidelines, a concession opens the door to exclusivity, commercialisation, and the denial of opportunity to brilliant but indigent children.
With the Trade Union Congress (TUC) suspending the industrial action it earlier directed its affiliates to shut Federal Unity Colleges over the proposed concession following a meeting with the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, in Abuja, the federal government must use the opening and consult more with stakeholders. This is necessary because the TUC has made it clear that the suspension did not mean that the industrial action had been permanently called off.
Establishing a committee is also not enough. The outcome must take note of the demands of the protesters. The Chairman of the Joint Council, Abraham Onuche said the workers would not recognise the suspension of the industrial action announced by the TUC because the congress was not directly involved in the protest or negotiations with the Joint Council. The union also opposed the proposed deployment of King’s College teachers and other employees, who may be affected by the concession, though the minister later allayed these fears.
The federal government must continue to engage with the unions and other stakeholders on the King’s College management arrangement through mutual respect, the law and the national interest, as promised by the minister. It is necessary to halt the process pending the work of the committee.
We reiterate that education is too important to be managed by rumours and leaks. If the government believes in Public-Private Partnerships, it must bring a transparent policy to the National Assembly and to Nigerians. It must explain the model, the terms, the oversight mechanisms, and why King’s College specifically.
But now that both parties further agreed to a two-week pause on the take-off of the implementation of the takeover of King’s College by the Old Boys Association to allow for dialogue during a meeting with the staff union and the Ministry of Education, we expect both parties to show more understanding that will finally lead to a permanent solution.
We at Daily Trust believe that King’s College is not property to be concessioned. It is a trust and must be treated as such. A trust must also be guarded, not sold to individuals who may have ideas that defeat the reasons for which the school was established.
