The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has warned the Federal Government against using the two-week review of the King’s College concession to push through what it described as a “backdoor” transfer of operational control of the Lagos school to its Old Boys’ Association.
HURIWA said the review must be transparent and comprehensive, insisting that the Federal Government should publish the full concession agreement and explain the legal, financial and administrative framework of the proposed Public-Private Partnership.
The warning followed an agreement between the Federal Government and organised labour to suspend implementation of the King’s College concession for two weeks and establish a seven-member committee to review the agreement. Labour also suspended its industrial action over the dispute.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA said the review should not merely be used to calm opposition while leaving the substance of the arrangement unchanged.
“Retention of legal title alone does not answer the central public-interest questions surrounding operational control,” the group said.
HURIWA said the Federal Government must disclose who would control the school under the proposed arrangement, how long the concession would last, who would control its finances and administration, and what would happen to public assets when the agreement expires.
The rights group also questioned the extent of the Old Boys’ Association’s proposed management role, arguing that an alumni organisation should not automatically become a de facto proprietor of a federal institution because its members are willing to contribute funds.
“Money donated to a public institution is not a title deed to that institution,” HURIWA said.
The Federal Government has maintained that King’s College has not been sold or privatised and that legal ownership will remain with government. The Education Ministry also says the proposed arrangement is designed to allow the Old Boys to manage and rehabilitate the institution while government retains ownership and oversight.
Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, has also said the King’s College arrangement is an isolated case and will not automatically be extended to other Federal Unity Colleges.
But HURIWA said the government’s position did not remove the need for public scrutiny of the concession.
The group demanded that the Federal Government disclose the concession document, approval records, duration, financial obligations, management structure and safeguards for students and workers.
It also called for a transparent review involving workers, parents, students, the Old Boys’ Association, education authorities and other stakeholders.
HURIWA said alumni contributions to public schools should be encouraged, but argued that such support could be channelled through transparent development funds or endowment arrangements without creating ambiguity over control of public institutions.
The organisation further criticised the confrontation that preceded the review, saying disputes over the future of a federal school should not lead to intimidation or the deployment of security personnel to force acceptance of a disputed arrangement.
The crisis escalated earlier in the week when workers resisted the entry of Old Boys’ Association members into the school, prompting a heavy police presence at the institution.
HURIWA welcomed the decision to review the concession but warned that the process must produce substantive answers.
The group said King’s College could be rehabilitated through partnerships without compromising public ownership, accountability and oversight.
“King’s College is not an Old Boys’ estate. King’s College is not a private inheritance. King’s College is a national institution,” HURIWA said.
The rights group urged the Federal Government to ensure that any final arrangement is lawful, transparent and in the public interest.