King’s College row: FG rules out concession of other unity colleges

The Federal Government has ruled out extending the proposed management arrangement for King's College, Lagos, to other Federal Unity Colleges nationwide. Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa clarified this during a news conference in Abuja, assuring that the government would continue to directly fund the rehabilitation of other unity colleges.

Alausa stated that the King's College arrangement was an isolated case and that the government had informed labor unions accordingly. The ministry has secured $20 million from a World Bank-supported programme for school rehabilitation, with about 20 unity colleges selected for the intervention. The decision to manage King's College through its old boys' association was driven by severe infrastructure decay and KCOBA's willingness to invest heavily through a non-profit foundation.

The financial challenge of rehabilitating all South-West region unity colleges alone was estimated at nearly N100 billion. The government is also exploring alternative funding mechanisms to supplement budgetary allocations for unity college rehabilitation. The controversy surrounding King's College management followed the government's decision to concede the school to its old boys' association.

A committee was formed to review the unions' concerns, but TUC threatened industrial action if dissatisfied with the committee's recommendations.