The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday declared that there was no going back on the Federal Government’s proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, despite mounting opposition from workers, parents and other stakeholders.

Alausa, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja, stressed that the government had followed due process in arriving at the decision and remained committed to the concession as part of efforts to improve the school’s infrastructure, resources and overall management.

The minister maintained that the proposed concession was not an abandonment of the institution by the Federal Government, but a move intended to address infrastructure and management challenges and improve the quality of education at the college.

The minister, however, accused some directors in the Federal Ministry of Education of fuelling the controversy by mobilising workers against the government’s decision.

He alleged that misinformation about the concession was being deliberately circulated by some union members and what he described as “unscrupulous” staff of the ministry.

“Misinformation has been going around, perpetuated by union members and unscrupulous members of staff of the Federal Ministry of Education,” he said.

Alausa also took aim at the Parent-Teacher Association of King’s College, accusing it of turning admission into a lucrative enterprise and allegedly demanding as much as N20 million from prospective students.

“The PTA of King’s College has turned admission into King’s College into criminal enterprise,” he alleged.

His declaration came amid escalating opposition by workers in the ministry and other stakeholders, who have raised concerns over the concession of the 117-year old institution to the King’s College Old Boys Association.

According to him, the alumni had spent over N2billion on the institution with nothing to show for it.

He explained that, contrary to reports circulated by the workers, the school was not for sale, stressing that the Federal Government would retain full ownership of the school despite the proposed management arrangement with the Old Boys Association.

“We haven’t sold it to them. The property still remains Federal Government property,” Alausa said, insisting that the government retains 100 per cent ownership of the school.

Alausa also assured workers that the proposed management arrangement would not result in job losses or demotions, stressing that affected staff would retain their appointments and existing levels within the public service.

He said the government had considered the concerns of the workers and would ensure that their employment rights and benefits were protected throughout the process.

He explained that workers who might be affected by the arrangement would have the option of being redeployed to other federal institutions within the education sector where their services were needed.

According to him, teachers and non-academic staff could be posted to other Unity Colleges and federal institutions, with the government maintaining that no worker would be forced out of employment as a result of the proposed concession.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, explained that there were no plans by the Federal Government to extend the proposed concession arrangement to other Unity Colleges across the country.

She stressed that the initiative was specific to King’s College, Lagos, and should not be interpreted as a broader plan to transfer the management or ownership of other Federal Unity Colleges to private organisations or alumni associations.

Ahmad said the government remained committed to protecting the public ownership of the Unity Colleges, while exploring measures to address their infrastructure and management challenges.

She maintained that the proposed arrangement for King’s College was being considered as an intervention to improve the school’s facilities and restore its standards, rather than as a move to sell off Federal Government properties.