King’s College, Lagos, has been shut by its staff union following the Federal Government’s directive for the immediate handover of the 116-year-old school to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association.

The development has thrown the planned resumption of students on Sunday into uncertainty, with the Parent-Teacher Association saying it will determine by Thursday whether the school can reopen.

The Federal Ministry of Education, in a letter dated September 4, 2026, confirmed that the concession of the college to KCOBA had been concluded and directed the immediate commencement of the handover.

The letter, signed by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Dr O. P. Olasoju-David, on behalf of the Minister of Education, stated, “Following the conclusion of all necessary processes up to the signing of the Concession Agreement, King’s College, Lagos has been concessioned to King’s College Old Boys’ Association.”

The ministry added, “Consequently, the Ministry has concluded all necessary arrangements to hand over the College to King’s College Old Boys’ Association with immediate effect for the implementation of the agreement therein, including the constitution of a Transition Committee.”

It directed that the transition be completed within six months, after which Federal Government funding of the college would stop.

“The transition committee is to ensure a seamless transition of the college management to KCOBA within six months, after which funding of the college from Federation Account will be stopped,” the letter stated.

The ministry also directed the principal to provide the transition committee with a list of staff willing to remain in the employment of the Federal Civil Service Commission.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Tuesday, the Chairman of the King’s College PTA, Peter Oluwaleye, said parents were informed of the development at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting on Monday after the ministry’s letter was received.

He said the staff union subsequently shut the school, preventing entry and exit.

“The staff union has declared an immediate shutdown of the college. No more entrance and exit,” Oluwaleye said.

He added that the development could affect the planned resumption of students on Sunday.

“Between today and Thursday, we will let all parents know if the school can be reopened for Sunday resumption or not,” he said.

Oluwaleye urged parents to continue preparing their children for resumption but advised them to suspend the purchase of perishable back-to-school items pending further clarification.

He said the PTA opposed the concession because the children were admitted into King’s College as students of a Federal Government institution and should be allowed to complete their education under the existing arrangement.

“Our children got admitted into KC as a unity school. They should have been allowed to graduate under the same terms,” he said.

Oluwaleye also questioned the six-month transition period, noting that some newly admitted students had several years before graduation.

“Now the letter stipulated a period of six months. Six months to do what? Six months to hand over. Why will it be only six months when we have some of our students that I just admitted; they have five, six years to graduate?” he asked.

He further faulted the Federal Government for what he described as inadequate consultation with parents.

“I’m not carried along,” he said, demanding access to the agreement governing the concession.

“Where is the agreement? You should be able to be privy to all the terms of the agreement,” Oluwaleye said.

He said the PTA would continue engaging the Federal Government and other stakeholders while exploring lawful options.

“The PTA, as a body, is free to exercise its rights within the ambit of the law. Stakeholder engagements will continue, and all options explored,” he said.

The PTA had previously opposed the concession, warning that transferring the management of the school to KCOBA could undermine affordable public education and exclude children from low-income families.

In a communiqué issued after its Annual General Meeting, the association argued that King’s College was established to provide affordable, accessible and quality education to Nigerian children regardless of their social or economic background.

It warned that the arrangement could lead to increased school fees and other charges beyond the reach of many parents.

The PTA said it was not opposed to private investment in education but rejected any arrangement that would undermine accessibility, affordability, equity and the public interest.

It also criticised the lack of consultation with parents, teachers and the host community and called on the Federal Government to suspend the concession and engage stakeholders.

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights also joined the opposition on Tuesday, demanding the immediate suspension and reversal of the concession.

In a statement by its National President, Yinka Folarin, and General Secretary, Idris Afees, the CDHR described the decision as a “dangerous policy shift” with implications for public education and the Federal Unity Schools.

The group questioned the terms of the concession, what exactly had been handed over to KCOBA, the obligations of the old boys’ association and safeguards to protect students from increased fees or exclusion.

It particularly faulted the planned withdrawal of Federal Government funding after six months, arguing that the government should address underfunding rather than withdraw its financial responsibility.

“Government cannot establish a public institution, benefit from its national character for generations, and then announce that its financial responsibility will terminate after handing its management to another entity,” the CDHR said.

Meanwhile, KCOBA had earlier maintained that the arrangement was neither a sale nor privatisation of King’s College but a partnership with the Federal Government to restore, modernise and sustain the institution.

Its President, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, described the arrangement as the beginning of a “King’s College Renaissance.”

The development followed a protest by hundreds of parents and students in Lagos last Thursday against the proposed concession.

The protesters marched from the school gate through major roads on Lagos Island to Tafawa Balewa Square and the National Museum, carrying placards with inscriptions including, “King’s College is not for sale” and “Federal Government, we say no to concession.”

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria had also opposed the concession of King’s College and other Federal Government Colleges, warning that handing over the institutions to private entities could make them unaffordable and threaten the jobs of teachers and other workers. (The PUNCH)