By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

Aggrieved parents on Tuesday prevented members of the King’s College Old Boys Association from entering the school premises in Lagos over the Federal Government’s proposed concession of the institution to the association.

The parents gathered at the main entrance of the college in Onikan and formed a human barricade, refusing to allow the old boys into the premises despite the presence of police officers led by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai.

Members of the Old Boys Association, led by its President, Kassim Imam Ibrahim, had planned to address journalists on the controversy surrounding the proposed management arrangement.

However, repeated appeals by the police failed to convince the parents to open the gate. As a result, Ibrahim spoke to journalists outside the school in a tense and crowded atmosphere.

Ibrahim dismissed claims that the association was attempting to acquire King’s College.

He explained that the Federal Executive Council had approved the transfer of the management of the school to the Old Boys Association, rather than the sale of the institution.

According to him, the association was interested in helping to restore the school’s facilities and improve its overall condition.

He said the main campus in Onikan and the school’s annex on Victoria Island had facilities that required significant rehabilitation.

Ibrahim also said the association had no intention of increasing school fees as part of the proposed arrangement.

“We are also not going to sack any teacher or worker,” he said, adding that workers who chose to remain would have their salaries doubled, while those who wanted to leave could seek opportunities in other unity colleges in Lagos.

The association also maintained that it was not seeking ownership of the institution.

A statement prepared on behalf of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King’s College Old Boys Association, Femi Okunnu, described the proposed involvement as an effort to support and rebuild the school rather than take possession of it.

Despite the assurances from the old boys, the protesting parents remained opposed to the proposed concession.

Andrew Emelieze, a former Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Oyo State who spoke on behalf of the parents, questioned why the Federal Government would hand over the management of King’s College and other unity schools to old students’ associations.

He argued that if the old boys wanted to support the school, they could fund specific projects and allow the government to retain control of the institution.

Emelieze also questioned why similar arrangements were not being pursued for other federal institutions, including military schools.

He insisted that the parents would continue to oppose any move to concession King’s College or other unity colleges.

Following the disagreement at the school gate, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police urged both sides to resolve the matter through dialogue.

CP Tijani said the police had spoken with representatives of both groups and believed further discussions were necessary to prevent the situation from escalating.

He also warned against any attempt to force entry into the school, stressing that the responsibility of the police was to maintain peace and prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Meanwhile, a meeting scheduled for Tuesday between the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Association of Senior Civil Servants in Abuja did not take place.