The Federal Government's proposed concession of King's College, Lagos, has sparked controversy, with investigations revealing that the deal is for 50 years, not the 35 years widely reported. The 50-year duration, contained in a concession document exclusively obtained by The Guardian, means that, barring any amendment, the arrangement would remain in force until 2076. This has raised fresh questions over the duration and terms of the planned transfer of management of the 117-year-old institution to the King's College Old Boys Association (KCOBA).
The concession document states that the initial term of the agreement is a "period of fifty (50) years commencing on the effective date of this agreement", with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) designated as the regulatory body. The disclosure comes amid renewed opposition to the concession, with a faction of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), led by Innocent Bola-Audu, insisting that the Federal Government should retain direct control of its Unity Colleges rather than hand their management to private interests.
A member of the negotiating team argued that Unity Colleges were established as national institutions to promote unity, national integration, and equal access to quality education, and should therefore remain under government management. The source warned that concessioning the schools to private organisations could undermine their original mandate and create a system in which access to quality education becomes increasingly determined by parents' ability to pay.
Others sources familiar with the development said the ASCSN position is expected to form part of the issues to be considered in the ongoing review involving the Federal Ministry of Education and KCOBA. The Guardian reports that the union's "no concession" position could reopen negotiations over the duration, terms, and conditions of the proposed arrangement under which KCOBA would assume responsibility for managing the college.
Under the proposed public-private partnership, KCOBA is expected to finance the rehabilitation and modernisation of King's College before operating and maintaining the institution, while ownership would remain with the Federal Government. The alumni association has previously announced plans to mobilise substantial resources for the college, including an endowment of nearly N100 billion, while stating that it had already spent more than N2 billion on infrastructure at the institution.
The proposed 50-year concession has heightened concerns among workers and other stakeholders over the implications of committing a public institution to private management for several decades. The controversy has also been compounded by the inability of the authorities to make the full concession agreement publicly available, despite repeated demands by stakeholders seeking clarity on its provisions.
Key stakeholders, including the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), have expressed concerns over the lack of transparency surrounding the process, warning that the arrangement could expose students to higher financial burdens and set a precedent for similar arrangements involving other public schools.
Key points
- The Federal Government's proposed concession of King's College, Lagos, is for 50 years.
- The concession has sparked controversy among stakeholders, including workers and education experts.
- The arrangement could expose students to higher financial burdens and set a precedent for similar arrangements involving other public schools.
