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By Bimbola Oyesola, [email protected]
Chairmen of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in Federal Unity Schools and other stakeholders have challenged the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to substantiate allegations linking PTA officials to admission racketeering and the payment of huge legal fees in connection with the controversy over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos.
In a joint rejoinder to comments attributed to the minister during his media engagements on September 16, 2026, the PTA leaders said parents should not be portrayed as criminals for demanding transparency over public schools.
The PTA representatives said the allegations were “serious” and deserved specific evidence, insisting that the associations were not seeking to take over government schools or frustrate Federal Government policies.
“We are not criminals. We are not admission officers. We are not contractors seeking to take over government schools,” the statement said. “We are parents defending the educational heritage of our children and the integrity of public education in Nigeria.”
At the centre of the dispute is an allegation, attributed by the PTA representatives to the minister, that some interests associated with PTAs in Unity Schools have demanded as much as ₦20 million for admission. The PTA chairmen said the allegation should be investigated where evidence exists but argued that it should not be used to indict the wider PTA structure. “If there are individuals who have committed criminal offences, they should be identified and prosecuted according to law,” they said, demanding that any specific cases be identified rather than leaving the allegation at the level of unnamed persons.
The PTA leaders specifically challenged the Ministry of Education to disclose the evidence behind the alleged ₦20 million payments. They asked the ministry to identify the schools and officials involved, dates of alleged transactions, relevant bank accounts, admission documents, beneficiaries and any petitions or investigations arising from the claims. “Parents across Nigeria deserve facts, not general accusations,” the statement said, adding that the PTA structure would welcome investigations into any genuine criminal conduct.
The representatives also questioned another allegation concerning legal expenses reportedly running between ₦100 million and ₦150 million. They asked the minister to identify the court case allegedly financed by PTA chairmen, including the court, suit number, parties and evidence of the payments. The PTA leaders said lawyers and legal professionals had provided assistance to stakeholders but maintained that claims concerning payments of such magnitude were factual matters capable of verification.
On the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, the PTA chairmen said their position should not be interpreted as opposition to development or private-sector participation.
They said parents welcomed rehabilitation, improved infrastructure and partnerships that genuinely benefited students. Their objection, they maintained, was to any process that could transfer or substantially alter the management or long-term use of a national educational institution without adequate transparency, consultation and compliance with applicable 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,” the statement declared.
The PTA representatives argued that the institution is a public educational heritage and therefore called for the proposed concession agreement to be made available for public scrutiny, including its duration, financial obligations, performance indicators, termination provisions and safeguards for students, teachers and the wider public.
The PTA chairmen also rejected any suggestion that they were opposed to the Old Boys Association or its contributions to King’s College. They acknowledged the role of alumni in supporting educational institutions but drew a distinction between philanthropy and ownership. According to them, alumni can contribute financially and materially to a public institution without that contribution automatically changing its public character.
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The statement further highlighted the financial and operational support parents say they have provided to Federal Unity Schools over the years.
According to the PTA representatives, approved levies and other legitimate contributions have supported areas including security, maintenance, teaching materials, sanitation, student welfare, repairs and the engagement of additional teachers. They said these contributions demonstrated that parents had been partners in sustaining the school system rather than adversaries of government.
The PTA leaders welcomed reports that the Federal Government was considering the absorption of thousands of long-serving PTA teachers into the Federal Civil Service. Public reports have put the number at more than 3,000, although the PTA representatives called for the Ministry of Education to publish the official figure and implementation framework.
They also asked the ministry to disclose the number of PTA teachers in each Unity School, their qualifications and years of service, remuneration, payment arrangements and the proposed process for their absorption.
Another issue raised in the rejoinder was the suggestion that parents and workers who protested against aspects of the proposed King’s College concession had been “rented protesters.” The PTA chairmen rejected the characterization, saying parents did not need to be paid to defend issues affecting their children. “Disagreement with government policy should not automatically be interpreted as sabotage,” they said, adding that parents, workers, unions and other stakeholders had genuine concerns about the proposed arrangement.
The PTA representatives said they remained law-abiding citizens and had consistently sought dialogue rather than confrontation. They said their demands centred on clarification, transparency, due process and the protection of students and educational institutions.
They also appealed to the minister to recognise the importance of the public education system, arguing that successive generations of Nigerians had benefited from government-funded education before becoming professionals and leaders across different sectors.
The controversy, they argued, should also trigger a broader review of the condition of Nigeria’s 115 Federal Unity Schools. Rather than focusing solely on accusations between government officials and parents, the PTA chairmen called for the Federal Government to publish a comprehensive development plan showing government expenditure per school, infrastructure deficits, teacher requirements, available staff, PTA contributions, security needs, maintenance requirements and the number of PTA-employed teachers.
On King’s College specifically, the PTA representatives said they were not opposed to development but wanted a framework that would allow government, alumni, parents, teachers and other stakeholders to contribute without undermining the institution’s public character.
They called for answers to questions surrounding the proposed 35-year arrangement, including what would be transferred to a concessionaire, what would remain under Federal Government control and what independent mechanisms would protect students, teachers and parents during the concession period.
The signatories said the dispute should not become a confrontation between parents and the Federal Government, stressing that all stakeholders ultimately share responsibility for protecting Nigerian children. “Let facts prevail over allegations. Let evidence prevail over insinuations. Let dialogue prevail over confrontation. Let the law prevail over expediency,” they said.
The statement was jointly signed by several PTA leaders, including Somefun Ayopo, Southwest Zonal Coordinator, FTC Ijebu Mushin; Engineer Peter Oluwaseye, PTA Chairman, King’s College, Lagos; Engineer Odetunde Taiwo, PTA Chairman, Ijanikin, Lagos; Comrade Akin Ojo, PTA Chairman, Oyo; Comrade Okunola, PTA Chairman, FGGC Efon Alaaye; Comrade Babalola Morenikeji, PTA Chairman, FTC Odogbolu; Comrade Adebayo Kehinde, PTA Chairman, Ikole Ekiti; Comrade Engr. Abah Matthew Ochigbo, Chairman, PTA, FGC Port Harcourt; and Mrs Lisa Nnaji, Chairman, PTA, FTCY Lagos, among others.
