Police intervene as staff, parents block King’s College gate over ‘privatisation’ fears

Protesters on Tuesday again blocked the main gate of King’s College, Lagos, continuing their demonstration against the proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) management model for the historic institution.

The aggrieved staff, parents and labour union members, chanting solidarity songs, locked out representatives of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA), led by its president, Sir Kazeem Ibrahim-Imam, denying them entry into the school premises as the college’s anniversary celebrations commenced this week.

Police operatives, led by the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, were on the ground to maintain peace and order and prevent hoodlums from hijacking the peaceful protest.

While the protesters held the front entrance, police officers entered through the back gate to force open the main gates. However, CP Tijani advised the old boys to pause their planned entry into the campus, stating that a multi-stakeholder meeting had been scheduled for Wednesday to resolve the impasse through dialogue.

Representatives of the Oba of Lagos were also present to appeal for calm.

The conflict stems from contrasting views over the future funding and administration of the federal government-owned college.

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Addressing journalists at the scene, the President of KCOBA, Sir Kazeem Ibrahim-Imam, clarified that the Federal Government is not selling the school, nor is KCOBA buying it.

He emphasised that the PPP arrangement aims to rescue the college from its current dilapidated state.

Ibrahim-Imam promised that under the arrangement, facility overhauls would begin, school fees would not increase, and teachers who choose to stay would have their salaries doubled.

He noted that the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had agreed that staff unwilling to participate in the PPP model would be transferred seamlessly.

He added that the old boys had been significantly contributing to the development of the college but now wanted to do better, all in the public interest.

On their part, the protesters viewed the situation differently.

One of the leaders, Mr Andrew Emelieze, who is the Coordinator of the Federal Workers Forum, said they strongly opposed what they termed the “privatisation” or “concession” of the college.

Emelieze argued that funding education remains the sole responsibility of the government, calling King’s College a collective heritage.

He suggested that if the old boys wanted to build or manage schools, they should acquire new land rather than take over the existing public institution.

He maintained that they would continue the protest until the Federal Government rescinded its plan for the college, stressing that “King’s College shall remain a national heritage.”