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The Federal Government has dismissed reports that King’s College, Lagos, has been sold or privatised, insisting that it remains the legal owner of the 117-year-old institution.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the clarification on Friday in Abuja while explaining the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession agreement between the Federal Government and the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA).
In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, Alausa said the agreement transferred responsibility for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the school to KCOBA, but did not transfer ownership.
He stressed that the Federal Government retained its statutory and regulatory powers, including monitoring, inspection, enforcement and oversight of the institution.
The minister said, “Let me assure Nigerians, particularly the King’s College community, that this concession is not a sale of King’s College. The government has retained legal title to the institution and will continue to exercise its oversight responsibilities.”
According to him, the concession was designed to mobilise private investment and management capacity to address the school’s infrastructure and operational needs while ensuring its long-term sustainability.
Alausa said the agreement 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 analyses.
Under the arrangement, KCOBA will finance and implement major rehabilitation and new development projects covering academic and administrative buildings, hostels, staff quarters, laboratories, libraries, dining and health facilities, utilities, sports facilities, drainage and other environmental works.
The minister said the agreement expressly preserved the public character and national identity of King’s College and did not create any proprietary interest in favour of KCOBA.
He added that admissions would continue under applicable Unity College policies, with merit, transparency, fairness and national representation maintained.
Alausa said representation would continue to cover the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, subject to applicable merit requirements, while admission into JSS1 would remain based on testing and assessment, with the National Common Entrance Examination retaining its place in the prescribed entry framework.
On school fees, the minister clarified that the concession did not provide for an automatic increase in fees, although it also did not impose a permanent fee freeze.
He said the primary objective was to tackle the institution’s infrastructure deficit, improve its facilities and strengthen its operational capacity.
Alausa also addressed concerns over staff welfare, saying the agreement contained a Staff Transition and Protection Framework to ensure an orderly transition while safeguarding employees’ interests.
He explained that existing employment obligations, liabilities, arrears, pensions, gratuities and other entitlements arising before the transition would remain the responsibility of the Federal Government unless expressly assumed by KCOBA.
After the transition, KCOBA would assume responsibility for relevant operating costs, including salaries, benefits and allowances of personnel engaged under the project.
The minister said government oversight would remain intact through measurable Key Performance Indicators, infrastructure standards and academic and student-development benchmarks.
He added that the agreement provided for regular reporting, audits, inspections and independent verification, while government retained corrective and step-in powers in cases of persistent underperformance or serious contractual breaches.
Alausa further disclosed that KCOBA would not be allowed to sell, transfer or dispose of concession assets without the necessary approvals, while asset stripping and deterioration beyond agreed standards were prohibited.
He said the arrangement did not involve a conventional monetary concession fee, but required KCOBA to provide capital investment, operational funding and infrastructure modernisation.
The minister urged stakeholders to judge the concession by its implementation and measurable outcomes, particularly in infrastructure, academic performance, admissions, staff welfare and student safety.
“King’s College is an institution with a remarkable history, but preserving that history requires us to invest in its future,” Alausa said.
He assured the King’s College community that the Federal Government would continue to monitor the agreement and hold all parties to their contractual obligations.
He urged stakeholders and members of the public to focus on the safeguards, investment commitments and expected results of the concession, saying the ultimate goal was to preserve King’s College’s heritage while strengthening the institution for future generations.
