Former principals of King’s College, Lagos, have opposed the Federal Government’s concession of the 117-year-old school to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association, calling for the arrangement to be suspended.
The former school heads, under the Forum of Former Principals of King’s College, said the government should retain responsibility for the institution while allowing old boys and other stakeholders to support its development.
In a statement signed by seven former principals and acting principals, the forum described the decision to stop government funding and transfer the day-to-day administration of the college to a private body as unacceptable.
The signatories included Dr S. A. B. Atolagbe, Sylvester Onoja, Yetunde Awofuwa, Oladele Olapeju, Elizabeth Ibezim, Dr Isaac Kolawole and Samuel Agun, who is the chairman of the forum.
The former principals urged the Federal Government to first develop a comprehensive master plan for the college before determining how its future management should be structured.
According to them, the proposed development plan should cover hostels, staff quarters, classrooms, laboratories, workshops, teaching and learning resources, recreational facilities, water, electricity, sanitation and healthcare.
They also said the plan should address staff recruitment, welfare, training and professional development, while preserving the historic buildings, traditions and institutional character of King’s College.
The forum said KCOBA, the Parent-Teacher Association, educationists, infrastructure experts, philanthropists, public-service unions and civil society organisations should be consulted as part of the process.
The former principals argued that the current concession had reversed what they considered the proper order of development, with KCOBA offering to prepare and implement a development plan on the condition that it assumes responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the college.
They acknowledged the contributions of KCOBA, the PTA, philanthropists and other stakeholders to the development of the school but said supporting the college was different from taking control of its administration and funding.
“The willingness of stakeholders to assist the college should complement — not replace — the federal government’s constitutional, financial, and administrative responsibilities,” the forum said.
The former principals also raised concerns about the possible effect of the concession on access to the institution, warning that higher fees and charges could reduce access for children from low-income families.
They further cited possible disruption to public-service structures, weaker government accountability and the erosion of the school’s national and inclusive character.
The forum therefore called for the immediate suspension of the concession pending broader stakeholder consultation and an independent review.
It proposed a partnership model in which KCOBA and other organisations could voluntarily support the development of King’s College through a transparent development fund and broad-based advisory council, without taking over its administration.
The former principals also called for independent audits, periodic public reports and transparent procurement procedures for projects and funds committed to the college.
They urged the government to ensure that no Nigerian child was denied access to King’s College because of family income, social status, ethnicity, religion or place of origin.
Describing King’s College as a national heritage institution established in 1909, the forum said the school had played a role in academic excellence, social mobility, leadership development and national integration.
It stressed that the institution’s public character should be preserved as the government explores ways to modernise it.
The development comes amid the controversy surrounding the concession of King’s College to its old boys’ association. The dispute also contributed to industrial action by staff of the Federal Unity Colleges.
After about two weeks, the Unity Colleges staff, under the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, suspended the nationwide strike on Wednesday to allow a seven-member Federal Government committee to review the King’s College concession document. The suspension paved the way for the reopening of the 115 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
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