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•King’s College workers, PTA challenge Minister to substantiate allegations
By Gabriel Dike
Minister for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has incurred the wrath of workers and parents in King’s College, Lagos over his recent allegation against them . The Association of Civil Servants of Nigeria (ACSCN) and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), have specifically asked him to produce evidences to sustantiate his claim.
In their separate reactions, ACSCN, PTA and teachers hit back at the Minister, accusing him of blackmailing them to accept the concession of the 117-year-old college to the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA).
Federal Government handed over the running, funding and management of the premier school to the old boys, the union and PTA swiftly rejected the decision. This led to a nationwide protest stalling resumption of academic activities for 2026/2027 in the 115 unity schools.
The face-off took a different dimension when Alausa made certain allegations against the workers and PTA of the college. They expressed concern that such weighty allegations were made without mentioning names or substantiating the claims.
ACSCN faults Minister
Chairman, ACSCN, Lagos State, Mr. Olusola Omidiji, observed that from the interview, it showed that the Federal Ministry of Education has failed: “Over the years, the PTA in the Federal Government owned secondary and technical colleges have intervened in many areas through appeals by the schools and permission from the Federal Ministry of Education. They have recruited teachers, cleaners, porters, dishwashers, cooks, drivers, nurses to augment the inadequacies in these areas.
“The PTA in the Federal Government Colleges has built classroom blocks, built hostel blocks, bought utility vehicles for the schools. The PTA has always assisted the schools across the country in many other ways, with the knowledge of the Federal Ministry of Education. For the Minister to now blackmail them generally is very discouraging.
“Many teachers in the federal Unity Colleges have been stagnated for years without being promoted to the next level, especially those at the directorate cadre because the ministry says no vacancies.
“The Federal Qualify Assurance Services Department of the FME is excessively starved of working tools. You can visit their Lagos Office at the Federal Ministry of Works Building, very close to King’s College, Lagos, to confirm this.
“Go round some schools in the six geopolitical zones of the country, including Lagos and Abuja to interview the managements, parents and the teachers in the schools for a more comprehensive and balanced reportage if the issues affecting the federal unity colleges.”
PTA Chairmen speak on allegations
Some PTA chairmen and chairpersons wrote to reject Alausa’s sweeping allegations. They included Somefun Ayopo, South West Zonal Coordinator, Federal Technical College, Ijebu Mushin; Peter Oluwaseye, King’s College, Lagos; Odetunde Taiwo, Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos; Akin Ojo, Oyo; Okunola, FGGC, Efon Alaaye; Babalola Morenikeji, FTC, Odogbolu and Adebayo Kehinde, Ikole Ekiti.
They said: “As parents, guardians and responsible Nigerians, we consider it necessary to respond—not out of disrespect for the office of the minister, but because some of the allegations made against Parent-Teacher Associations and their chairmen are serious allegations that should not be allowed to remain unanswered.
“We are concerned parents who have invested our resources, time and energy in supporting the Federal Unity Schools where our children are being educated. We are not criminals. We are not admission officers. We are not contractors seeking to take over government schools. We are parents defending the educational heritage of our children and the integrity of public education in Nigeria.
“Alausa alleged that PTA executives in some unity schools have been involved in selling admissions for as much as N20 million without substantiating his claim. This is an extremely serious allegation. We therefore respectfully asked; when did PTA chairmen become admission officers of the FME. Who authorises admission into unity schools.
“Who signs admission letters. Who controls the official admission process and who receives admission fees? Let the evidence be made public and let the appropriate law-enforcement authorities investigate the specific individuals involved.
“Where is the evidence of the alleged N20 million admission payment? The should provide the evidence supporting this allegation. Let the ministry identify: the particular school; the particular PTA officials involved; the dates of the alleged transactions; the bank accounts into which the alleged funds were paid; the admission documents involved; the beneficiaries of the alleged payments; and any petition or investigation arising from such transactions.”
Parents said the country deserves facts, not general accusations, if such evidence exists, they welcome investigation and if it does not exist, then the reputation of thousands of PTA volunteers should not be damaged by sweeping allegations.
The chairmen said the allegation that PTA chairmen raised or paid N100 million to N150 million in legal fees is a factual matter capable of verification: “If such payment was made, let the evidence be produced and if no such payment was made, then the allegation should be withdrawn.
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“PTA is oppose to any process that appears to dispose of, concession, transfer or alter the management of a national educational heritage without sufficient transparency, stakeholder consultation and compliance with the law.
“King’s College is not the private property of the PTA. It is not the private property of the old boys association. It is not the private property of any individual. It is a national institution belonging to the Nigerian public. That is precisely why Nigerians have a legitimate interest in how its future is determined.
“The minister is reminded that KC belongs to Nigerians, not the property of any particular generation or association. The college represents a part of Nigeria’s educational heritage. No generation has the right to dispose of the heritage of future generations without due process. Any arrangement capable of substantially changing the ownership, control, management or long-term use of a national public educational institution must be subjected to the appropriate legal and institutional processes.”
The chairmen called for complete disclosure of the concession agreement, its duration, obligations of the parties, financial commitments, performance indicators, termination provisions and safeguards for students, staff and the Nigerian public:
“We respect the Old Boys of King’s College. We acknowledge the contributions that alumni associations have made to education in Nigeria. We welcome their willingness to invest in their alma mater and that philanthropy and alumni contribution are not synonymous with ownership of a public institution.
“One of the issues that appears to have been overlooked in this debate is the enormous contribution parents are already making to keep federal unity schools functioning. Across the unity schools, parents contribute through approved PTA levies and other legitimate support mechanisms. These resources have helped schools meet important needs that government funding has not always adequately covered.
“The needs include PTA-employed teachers; security support; maintenance; teaching and learning materials; minor infrastructure; sanitation; student welfare and repairs. PTA teachers in many of these institutions have served for years, become an important part of the functioning of the schools.”
The chairmen welcomed the reported approval for the consideration of thousands of long-serving PTA teachers for absorption into the Federal Civil Service and demanded the ministry to publish the actual list and implementation framework so that parents, teachers and Nigerians can independently understand the process.
They revealed: “PTA contributions have been used to support staffing and other essential functions within the unity schools. Parents should not now be portrayed as criminals for providing resources that have helped keep schools functioning. If government has now decided that these teachers should be absorbed into the Federal Civil Service, we welcome that intervention and but government should also acknowledge the contribution of parents who sustained these workers for years.
“Nigerians do not need inducement to ask legitimate questions about public assets. The concerns surrounding King’s College are genuine and have been expressed by parents, workers, unions and other stakeholders. Indeed, media reports confirm that workers and parents have been actively involved in the dispute over the proposed concession and disagreement with government policy should not automatically be interpreted as sabotage.
“Unity schools deserve special attention. They are an important component of the national education system. Instead of parents and government officials exchanging accusations, the present crisis should become an opportunity for the Federal Government to publish a comprehensive development plan for all federal unity schools.
“The present controversy should not become a war between the ministry and parents. Alausa has a responsibility to defend government policies, while parents have equal responsibility to defend the interests of their children, teachers have a responsibility to defend their profession while alumni have a responsibility to preserve the legacy of their schools.
“We shall continue to support the Federal Government in building stronger schools, but we shall equally continue to ask legitimate questions whenever the heritage, welfare and future of our children are at stake. We seek partnership, not confrontation. We seek accountability, not accusation. We seek development, not dispossession and we seek a better Nigeria for our children.”
Situation in other colleges
The dispute at King’s College is not an isolated case. At the Federal Government College, Kano, the Alumni Association and USOSA disclosed that the minister without consultation entered into Public Private Partnership (PPP) land swap at FGC, Kano, one of the major controversies rocking the sub-sector.
The FGC, Kano, Old Students Association (FGCKOSA) and USOSA are currently battling the minister and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad over the deal. The two groups alleged that about 33 hectares, 40 per cent the college’s land, along Zaira Road, were given to a developer, who in exchange would you provide N8.5billion infrastructure such as hostels, classrooms, clinic, sports complex and corpers’ lodge.
The alumni and USOSA disclosed that the land is valued at N36billion. Alumni offered an alternative to raise N5billion through a Foundation but Alausa insisted, “no going back”.
Like the KC scenario, the alumni staged protests in Lagos, Abuja and Kano and petitioned President Bola Tinubu. A similar crisis is brewing at FGC, Orozo, over move to allocate college land to a developer.
To avert a similar experience, the people of Elieke, Rumuokoro Clan, Obio/Akpor Local Government, Rivers State, rejected the alleged concession plan of the Federal Government College (FGC), Port Harcourt.
A statement by President, Elieke Community Council, Nyebuchi Amadi and Secretary, John Wagbara, titled: Total Rejection of the Proposed Privatization) Concession of FGC, Port Harcourt and other Unity Colleges by the host community, said no to concession of the college:
“We say no to concession. We say no to privatization of unity colleges, FGC, Port Harcourt must remain a Federal Government college for all Nigerians.”
