King’s College Not Sold, FG Retains Ownership — Alausa

By Pan Afric Reporters

The Federal Government has moved to allay concerns over the future of King’s College, Lagos, declaring that the 117-year-old national institution has not been sold or privatised and that government retains legal title and oversight powers over the school.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued by Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, on September 11, 2026, quoting the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession involving the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA).

Alausa explained that the concession agreement transfers responsibility for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the institution to KCOBA, but does not transfer ownership of the school.

“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 added that the arrangement was designed to mobilise the investment and management capacity required to strengthen the institution while preserving its public character and national identity.

According to the Minister, the concession was developed under the established PPP framework and subjected to technical, economic, financial, legal, environmental and social assessments, as well as value-for-money and fiscal-impact assessments, risk allocation and commercial structuring before obtaining the necessary regulatory and Federal Executive Council approvals.

Alausa stressed that the agreement does not confer any proprietary interest in King’s College on KCOBA and expressly protects the institution’s public character and national identity.

Admissions, Fees

The Minister further assured stakeholders that admissions into King’s College would continue to comply with applicable Unity College policies and the principles of merit, transparency, fairness and national representation.

He said admission would maintain equitable representation from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, subject to applicable merit requirements, while JSS1 admission would continue through the prescribed testing and assessment process, with the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) remaining central to the entry framework.

On school fees, Alausa clarified that the concession agreement does not prescribe an automatic increase in fees, although it does not establish a permanent fee freeze.

KCOBA to Fund Major Rehabilitation

The Minister said the primary objective of the concession was to address the significant infrastructure and operational needs of the 117-year-old institution and secure its long-term sustainability.

Under the agreement, KCOBA is expected to finance and implement major rehabilitation and new development covering 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 will also provide new classrooms, laboratories, hostels and specified sports facilities, 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.

FG Retains Oversight, Step-in Powers

Addressing concerns over the welfare of teachers and other employees, the Minister said the agreement contains a formal Staff Transition and Protection Framework designed to ensure an orderly transition while protecting staff welfare and maintaining continuity of 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, 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 law.

Alausa also emphasised that the concession would not diminish government oversight of the institution.

He said 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.

According to him, government retains corrective and step-in powers in cases of persistent underperformance or serious contractual default.

KCOBA is also restricted from selling, transferring or disposing of concession assets without the required approvals, while asset stripping and deterioration beyond agreed standards are prohibited.

No Conventional Concession Fee

The Minister further disclosed that the agreement does not provide for a conventional monetary concession fee.

Instead, he said KCOBA’s obligations include capital investment, operational funding, infrastructure modernisation, institutional strengthening and measurable performance.

Alausa welcomed legitimate scrutiny of the arrangement and urged stakeholders to assess it based on implementation, transparency and measurable results.

He identified infrastructure improvement, academic performance, admissions, staff welfare, student safety and wellbeing, proper utilisation of project funds and compliance with agreed KPIs as key areas by which the concession should be judged.

“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,” the Minister assured.

“We will continue to monitor implementation and hold all parties to their contractual obligations,” he added.

Alausa consequently urged the King’s College community and the Nigerian public to focus on the substance of the concession agreement, particularly its safeguards, investment obligations, implementation framework and expected 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,” the Minister stated.