By The Federal Government has suspended the implementation of the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, to its Old Boys’ Association for two weeks following protests by workers in the education sector.
The decision was reached after discussions between the government and labour unions over the proposed management arrangement for the 117-year-old institution.
As part of the agreement, the government will establish a seven-member committee to examine and negotiate the agreement between the Federal Government and the King’s College Old Boys’ Association, KCOBA.
The government also agreed to redeploy policemen currently stationed at the school and assured workers that those who participated in the protests would not be victimised.
The suspension followed protests by workers of the Federal Ministry of Education in Lagos and Abuja over the concession.
The workers had raised concerns about the effect of the arrangement on teachers and other staff of King’s College, as well as its implications for other Federal Government Unity Colleges.
The Federal Government has maintained that the proposed concession does not amount to the sale or privatisation of King’s College.
Under the arrangement announced by KCOBA, the government is expected to retain ownership of the institution while the Old Boys’ Association takes on management responsibilities under a new governance framework.
KCOBA President, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, said the arrangement was designed to support the rehabilitation and modernisation of the school.
The association has launched a N100 billion endowment fund, with proposed areas of intervention including infrastructure, teacher development, digital technology, scholarships, research, innovation and student welfare.
The proposed concession has, however, faced opposition from parents, teachers and other stakeholders.
On Friday, parents and stakeholders protested at the school, displaying placards including “King’s College is not for sale” and “Education is our right.”
The King’s College Parents-Teachers Association has questioned the proposed 35-year duration of the arrangement and expressed concern that it could affect the affordability of the school.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has also opposed the concession, warning that it could set a precedent for similar arrangements involving other Federal Government Unity Colleges.
The two-week suspension now gives the newly proposed committee time to review the agreement and engage the parties involved before implementation resumes.
