Parents, Teachers Reject King’s College Concession, Halt Students’ Resumption

Parents and teachers of students in Federal Unity Colleges across the country are at loggerheads with the Federal Government over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) declaring that there will be no resumption on Monday, September 14, 2026.

In a directive circulated to parents on Saturday through the PTA WhatsApp platform of Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari, the school’s PTA said the action was taken “in solidarity and support of the ongoing position against the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos.”

The message, signed by Dr. Augustine Modu for the FGGC Bwari PTA EXCO, strongly advised parents and guardians not to bring or send their children and wards to FGGC Bwari for resumption as earlier scheduled.

The PTA said the directive is being enforced through various Federal Unity Colleges Chapters by the Joint Workers Committee of Unions, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, pending the resolution of the matter.

It listed chairmen of PTA and staff unions from over 50 Unity Colleges nationwide as being in support, including FGGC Owerri, FGC Ilorin, FGC Birnin Yauri, FGGC Akure, FGGC Gusau, FGC Okigwe, FGC Ikole Ekiti, FGGC Zaria, King’s College Lagos, FGGC Omuaran, FGGC Gwandu, FGGC Onitsha, FGC Ikirun, FGC Nise, FGC Billiri, FTC Ijebu Imusin, FEQAS Lagos, FGC Idoani, FTC Awka, FGGC Minjibir, FGGC Keana, FGGC Efon Alaaye, FGGC Gboko, FTC Michika, FGGC Langtang, FGGC Monguno, FGGC Benin, FGGC Bwari, FGC Lagos, FGC Odogbolu, FTC Dayi Katsina, Queen’s College Yaba, FGC Maiduguri, FGGC Abaji, FSEC Lagos, FGC Warri, FGC Keffi, FGC Kwali, FGC Enugu, FTC Ganduje, FGC Rubochi, FTC Uromi, FGGC Ibusa, FGGC Abuloma, FGGC Bauchi, FGC Ogbomoso, FSC Ogoja, FGGC Tambuwal, FTC Doma, FGGC Kabba, FTC Zuru, and FGGC Calabar.

The PTA urged parents to remain calm and await further official communication, stressing that resumption will only take place when the suspension is officially called off.

It, however, noted that new intake registration will continue, and appealed for understanding over the inconvenience.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has insisted that all Federal Unity Colleges will resume on Monday as scheduled.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said safety and security arrangements have been concluded and that relevant security agencies have been placed on heightened vigilance around the colleges.

He urged parents and guardians to remain calm and rely on official information.

The Ministry also used the opportunity to clarify the concession arrangement for King’s College.

Alausa explained that the school has not been sold or privatised and that legal ownership remains with the Federal Government.

He said the Public-Private Partnership arrangement allows KCOBA to finance, rehabilitate, modernise, operate and maintain the 117-year-old college, while government retains statutory powers of regulation, monitoring, inspection and enforcement.

“Let me assure Nigerians, particularly the King’s College community, that this concession is not a sale of King’s College,” the Minister stated.

He noted that the agreement went through technical, economic, financial, legal, environmental and social assessments, as well as value-for-money and fiscal impact assessments before receiving Federal Executive Council approval.

According to him, the concession was designed to protect the public character and national identity of King’s College and does not transfer ownership to KCOBA.

He assured that admissions will continue under Unity College policies with emphasis on merit, transparency, fairness and national representation, and that the National Common Entrance Examination will remain central for JSS1 entry.

On fees, he said the agreement does not prescribe an automatic increase neither does it impose a permanent freeze, as the focus is on addressing infrastructure and operational needs.

Under the terms, KCOBA is expected to fund academic and administrative buildings, hostels, staff quarters, laboratories, libraries, dining and health facilities, utilities, sports facilities, drainage and environmental works, as well as digital learning tools.

The Minister said government oversight remains through Key Performance Indicators, audits, inspections and step-in powers in cases of underperformance. He added that a Staff Transition and Protection Framework has been put in place, with pre-transition liabilities remaining with government and post-transition salaries to be handled by KCOBA.

Alausa urged stakeholders to judge the arrangement by its implementation and outcomes, and reiterated that King’s College remains a national heritage institution that must be strengthened for the future.