.……PPP concession to rehabilitate, modernise and sustainably manage 117-year-old national institution.
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.
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 asset-condition standards, academic and student-development measures, reporting requirements, audits, inspections and independent verification.
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.
Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations
