The Federal Government has dismissed concerns that King’s College, Lagos, has been sold or privatised, insisting that the 117-year-old institution remains under public ownership.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, gave the clarification in a statement issued on Friday by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo.
The statement addressed concerns surrounding the Public-Private Partnership concession granted to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association, particularly questions about the ownership, management and future of the historic school.
Alausa said the concession only grants KCOBA responsibility for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the institution, while the Federal Government retains legal ownership as well as its statutory and regulatory authority.
“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.
According to the minister, the concession was processed under the government’s established PPP framework and underwent technical, economic, financial, legal, environmental and social assessments. It was also subjected to value-for-money and fiscal-impact assessments, risk allocation and commercial structuring before obtaining the required regulatory and Federal Executive Council approvals.
He said the terms of the agreement specifically preserve the public character and national identity of King’s College, adding that the arrangement neither transfers ownership nor gives KCOBA a proprietary interest in the institution.
Alausa also stated that admissions would remain subject to the policies governing Federal Unity Colleges. He said the process would continue to be based on merit, transparency and fairness, alongside national representation covering the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, subject to applicable merit requirements.
For JSS1 admission, the minister said the existing testing and assessment process would remain in place, with the National Common Entrance Examination continuing to serve as a key component of the prescribed admission framework.
On school fees, Alausa clarified that the concession agreement does not mandate an automatic increase. However, he noted that it also does not provide for a permanent freeze in fees.
The minister said the primary objective of the concession was to tackle the institution’s substantial infrastructure and operational needs while creating a framework for its long-term sustainability.
Under the arrangement, KCOBA is expected to finance and execute extensive rehabilitation and development projects across the school. The projects cover academic and administrative buildings, hostels, staff quarters, laboratories, libraries, dining areas, healthcare facilities, utilities, sporting and recreational infrastructure, landscaping, drainage and environmental improvements.
The development programme will also include additional classrooms, laboratories and hostels, alongside specified sports facilities, upgraded learning resources and digital tools.
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“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.
Addressing concerns about teachers and other workers, Alausa said the agreement includes a Staff Transition and Protection Framework intended to ensure an orderly transfer while safeguarding staff welfare and maintaining essential services such as teaching, boarding and security.
He explained that employment-related obligations incurred before the transition—including liabilities, arrears, pensions, gratuities and other entitlements—would remain with the grantor unless KCOBA expressly assumes them.
After the transition, KCOBA would take responsibility for relevant operating costs, including salaries, benefits and allowances for personnel engaged under the project, in line with existing contracts and applicable laws.
The minister further stressed that the concession would not remove government supervision of the institution.
He said the agreement establishes measurable Key Performance Indicators covering infrastructure and asset conditions, academic and student-development outcomes, reporting, audits, inspections and independent verification.
The Federal Government, he added, retains corrective and step-in powers where there is persistent underperformance or serious contractual default.
KCOBA would also be prohibited from selling, transferring or disposing of concession assets without the necessary approvals. The agreement equally bars asset stripping and deterioration beyond stipulated standards.
Alausa explained that the arrangement does not involve a conventional monetary concession fee. Instead, KCOBA’s obligations centre on capital investment, operational financing, infrastructure upgrades, institutional development and the achievement of measurable performance targets.
He said the government was open to legitimate scrutiny, urging stakeholders to evaluate the concession based on its execution, transparency and measurable outcomes.
Among the areas to be monitored, he listed infrastructure, academic performance, admissions, staff welfare, student safety and wellbeing, appropriate use of project funds and compliance with the 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 urged the King’s College community and members of the public to examine the details of the concession agreement, particularly its safeguards, investment commitments, implementation process 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 statement said.