…Alausa says government remains committed to Unity Colleges, assures teachers of job security
The Federal Government has ruled out the sale or concession of Federal Unity Colleges across the country, declaring that it will retain ownership and responsibility for the institutions.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing journalists on the controversy surrounding the proposed management arrangement involving King’s College, Lagos and the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA).
Alausa said the government had initially considered concession arrangements as a way of addressing the huge infrastructure deficit confronting the Unity Colleges, but had now abandoned the plan.
He said the infrastructure needs of the colleges were enormous, noting that even N2 trillion would not be sufficient to address all the challenges.
According to the minister, the proposed management arrangement for King’s College is aimed at mobilising additional resources to rehabilitate and modernise the historic institution without transferring its ownership from the Federal Government.
He also dismissed concerns that the arrangement would result in higher school fees or the loss of jobs by teachers.
“No. We’re not extending it. Government still has its responsibility,” Alausa said when asked whether the proposed arrangement would be extended to other Unity Colleges.
The minister was emphatic that the Federal Government had no plan to sell any of the institutions.
“Let me be unequivocal, Federal Government is not selling any Unity College.
“Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, does not have the intention to sell any Unity College, and we will not sell any Unity College.
“That is the government position, and go and write it down and hold on to that, we are not selling the government institutions,” he said.
Alausa explained that the decision to explore an alternative management arrangement for King’s College was prompted by the deteriorating state of infrastructure at the school and the need to restore it to its historical standard.
He said the government remained responsible for the Unity Colleges and would continue to discharge its obligations to them.
The minister’s clarification comes amid concerns over the future of the Unity Colleges and the proposed partnership involving KCOBA, particularly regarding ownership, funding, school fees and the welfare of teaching staff.
Alausa, however, maintained that the proposed arrangement for King’s College was intended to provide additional resources for the school while preserving its status as a Federal Government institution.
