…seek proof of alleged N100m-N150m legal fees, reject ‘rented protesters’ claim
Chairmen of Parent-Teacher Associations of some Federal Unity Schools have challenged the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, to provide evidence backing his allegation that PTA interests in some schools demand as much as N20m for admission.
The PTA chairmen, in a rejoinder issued on Thursday to comments attributed to Alausa during his media engagements on Wednesday, also demanded proof of alleged legal fees of between N100m and N150m purportedly paid by PTA chairmen in connection with the controversy surrounding the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos.
The chairmen said they were not opposed to the development of public schools or private-sector participation but insisted that any arrangement capable of altering the management or long-term use of a national educational institution must be transparent and subjected to due process.
The Federal Government has maintained that the proposed arrangement with the King’s College Old Boys’ Association is a concession and not a sale, with legal ownership remaining with the government. The government had also said the arrangement was intended to rehabilitate, modernise and manage the 117-year-old institution.
However, following the controversy, the Federal Government and organised labour agreed on Wednesday to suspend implementation of the King’s College concession for two weeks while a seven-member committee reviews the arrangement.
Reacting to the minister's comments, the PTA chairmen asked: “When did PTA Chairmen become admission officers of the Federal Ministry of Education?”
They said if any PTA chairman, executive or identified individual had collected N20m in exchange for admission, the person should be identified and investigated rather than making sweeping allegations against the entire PTA structure.
The statement was jointly signed by the Southwest Zonal Coordinator of FTC, Ijebu-Mushin, Somefun Ayopo; Chairman, PTA, King’s College, Lagos, Engineer Peter Oluwaseye; Chairman, PTA, Ijanikin, Engineer Odetunde Taiwo; Chairman, PTA, Oyo, Comrade Akin Ojo; Chairman, PTA, FGGC Efon-Alaaye, Comrade Okunola; Chairman, PTA, FTC Odogbolu, Comrade Babalola Morenikeji; and Chairman, PTA, Ikole-Ekiti, Comrade Adebayo Kehinde, among others.
The signatories said they were concerned parents and guardians who had invested their resources, time and energy in supporting Federal Unity Schools where their children were being educated.
“We are not criminals. We are not admission officers. We are not contractors seeking to take over government schools.
“We are parents defending the educational heritage of our children and the integrity of public education in Nigeria,” they said.
The PTA chairmen challenged the Ministry of Education to identify the particular school, PTA officials involved, dates of the alleged transactions, bank accounts into which the money was allegedly paid, admission documents and beneficiaries if evidence of the alleged N20m payments existed.
They also demanded details of any petition or investigation arising from the alleged transactions.
The group said parents deserved facts rather than general accusations, adding that those found to have committed criminal offences should be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
On the alleged N100m to N150m legal fees, the PTA chairmen asked the minister to identify the court case, parties, court and suit number involved.
“Can the Honourable Minister identify the court case, the parties, the court, the suit number and the PTA Chairmen allegedly responsible for paying N100 million to N150 million in legal fees?” they asked.
They said if such payments were made, evidence should be produced, adding that if no such payment was made, the allegation should be withdrawn.
The PTA chairmen further rejected the suggestion that their opposition to aspe
cts of the King’s College arrangement amounted to opposition to development.
According to them, parents welcome development, private-sector participation, rehabilitation, better infrastructure, improved learning environments and partnerships that genuinely serve Nigerian children.
They, however, said they opposed any process that appeared to dispose of, concession, transfer or fundamentally alter the management of a national educational heritage without adequate transparency, stakeholder consultation and compliance with the law.
The group stressed that King’s College was neither the private property of the PTA nor the Old Boys’ Association, saying the institution belonged to the Nigerian public.
They called for the full disclosure of the concession agreement, including its duration, obligations of the parties, financial commitments, performance indicators, termination provisions and safeguards for students, teachers and the public.
The PTA chairmen also said they respected the contributions of King’s College Old Boys Association to education but argued that alumni philanthropy did not automatically confer ownership of a public institution on an association.
“An Old Boys Association can contribute to the development of King’s College without that contribution automatically transferring the institution's public character to the association,” they said.
The parents also drew attention to the contribution of PTAs to the running of Federal Unity Schools, saying parents had supported schools through approved PTA levies and other legitimate contributions.
They listed PTA-supported areas to include teachers, security, maintenance, teaching and learning materials, minor infrastructure, sanitation, student welfare and urgent repairs.
The group welcomed the reported Federal Government plan to consider the absorption of more than 3,000 long-serving PTA teachers into the Federal Civil Service but called on the Ministry of Education to publish the actual list and implementation framework.
The chairmen also requested details of the number of PTA teachers in each Unity School, their names, years of service, qualifications, monthly remuneration, source of payment and records supporting the figures.
They further asked the government to publish its proposed arrangements for absorbing the teachers into the Federal Civil Service.
The PTA chairmen said parents should not be portrayed as criminals for supporting teachers and other services that had helped keep the schools functioning over the years.
They also rejected any suggestion that parents and workers who protested against the King’s College arrangement were “rented protesters.”
“Parents do not need to be paid to defend the future of their children.
“Workers do not need to be rented to defend their employment.
“Nigerians do not need inducement to ask legitimate questions about public assets,” they said.
The group said the concerns surrounding King’s College were genuine and had been raised by parents, workers, unions and other stakeholders, adding that disagreement with government policy should not automatically be interpreted as sabotage.
The controversy over the proposed concession has already triggered protests and industrial action by workers in Federal Unity Schools. Reports indicated that 112 of the 115 Federal Unity Colleges were affected by the workers’ boycott at the beginning of the new academic session.
The PTA chairmen said they remained law-abiding citizens who had consistently sought dialogue, clarification, transparency, due process and protection for their children and the institutions they attended.
They also urged the Federal Government to use the controversy as an opportunity to publish a comprehensive development plan for all 115 Federal Unity Schools.
They asked the government to disclose its expenditure per school, infrastructure deficit, teacher requirements, staffing levels, annual PTA contributions, government contributions, number of PTA teachers, security requirements and maintenance needs.
On King’s College, the group said its position was not against development but in favour of transparency, accountability, legality, public ownership and protection of Nigeria’s educational heritage.
The chairmen also listed 12 questions for the Minister of Education, including the evidence supporting the alleged N20m admission payments, the identity of any PTA official involved, evidence of the alleged N100m-N150m legal fees and details of the court case allegedly instituted by PTA chairmen.
They further demanded publication of the complete King’s College concession agreement and clarification on what the reported 35-year arrangement transfers to the concessionaire and what remains under Federal Government control.
The group also asked what mechanisms were in place to protect students, teachers and parents throughout the concession period and how many PTA teachers currently worked in each Federal Unity School.
It also asked the government to disclose the contribution of the PTA system to the operation and maintenance of the schools over the years.
The chairmen appealed to the minister, parents, teachers and alumni to avoid turning the dispute into a confrontation.
“The Minister has a responsibility to defend government policy. Parents have an equal responsibility to defend the interests of their children.
“Teachers have a responsibility to defend their profession. Alumni have a responsibility to preserve the legacy of their schools,” they said.
They called for restraint in public statements, transparency in government decisions, proper engagement with stakeholders and adherence to the rule of law.
“Let facts prevail over allegations. Let evidence prevail over insinuations. Let dialogue prevail over confrontation. Let the law prevail over expediency.
“And let the interests of Nigerian children prevail over every other consideration,” the PTA chairmen said.
They maintained that they had no intention of taking over government schools or frustrating the Federal Government, stressing that anyone found to have committed a crime should be identified, investigated and prosecuted according to law.
“King’s College is a national heritage. Federal Unity Schools are national assets. Our children are the future of Nigeria,” they said.
The PTA chairmen concluded by saying they would continue to support the Federal Government in building stronger schools while also asking questions whenever the heritage, welfare and future of Nigerian children were at stake.
“We seek partnership, not confrontation.
“We seek accountability, not accusation.
“We seek development, not dispossession.
“We seek a better Nigeria for our children,” they said.
This version keeps the N20m admission allegation, N100m–N150m legal-fee claim, concession/due-process dispute, PTA funding of schools, PTA teachers, alleged “rented protesters,” 115 Unity Schools and the specific questions to the minister as the major news angles.
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